THE 

LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

OF    THE 
Reverend 

Benjamin  Colman,  D.  D. 

Late  Paftor  of  a  Cburcb  in  BOSTON  NEW-ENGLAND* 
Who  Deceafed  Auguft  apth  1747. 

By   EBENEZER  T  u  R  E  L  L,  A.  M. 
Paftor  of  Medford. 

Rev.  ii.  19.  I  know  thy —  SERVICE. 

Non  Nolis  nati  fumut  — 


BOSTON,  NEW-ENGLAND, 

Printed  and  Sold  by  ROGERS  and  FOWLE  in  Quccn-ftrcct, 
and  by  J.  EDWARDS  in  Cornhill, 

MDCCXLIxT 


&3TDA.HAHD    i  f;j 


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a^H-wiR! 


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•M  .A  ca  j  a  ;i  u  T  ^  a  s  a  H  a  a  H    ^ 

1o 


i 


PREFACE. 


AS  the  Rev.  Dr.  COLMAN  flood  among 
the  firft  Ornaments  and  Benefactors 
to  his  Country,  it  feems  but  a  becoming 
Gratitude  to  himy  and  Honour  to  ourfehesy 
to  raife  a  Monument  to  his  Memory.  His 
polite  and  generous  Pen  was  always  ready 
to  do  the  fame  for  others  ;  and  feized 
every  Opportunity  to  charm  the  Living, 
by  the  Virtues  and  Examples  of  the  Dead  : 
Though  few  Characters  and  A&ions  would 
bear  to  be  tranfmitted  down  to  Pofterity 
with  equal  Advantage  to  his  own. 

The  following  Sheets  prefentus  with  his 
entertaining  arid  ufeful  Hiftory,  which  will 
convey  to  the  Reader  fome  Idea  of  the 
Man  of  God  taken  from  our  Head  ;  in 
which  the  Reverend  Author  has  been  at 
great  Labour,  under  a  tender  State  of 
Health,  and  the  conftant  Avocations  of 
his  Miniftry,  to  fearch  into  Letters, 


other  Manufcripts,  in  order  ,to  compile  and 
digeft  what  is  here  given  to  the  Reader, 
Thofe  who  are  acquainted  with  the  Fa 
tigue  and  Difficulty  attending  Difquifiti- 
*A  A  3 


PREFACE. 

ons  of  this  Kind,  will  read  a  Life  princi 
pally  compofed  of  fuch  inconneded  Mate 
rials  with  a  reafonable  Candor.  And  it 
cannot  but  be  regretted,  that  the  Do&or 
himfelf)  either  negledted  the  Records  of  a 
more  regular  Diary,  or  that  he  deftroyed 
fuch  valuable  Memorials.  As  he  certainly 
did  from  a  diffident  Modefty,  Numbers  of 
his  own  Sermons,  and  in  the  Judgment  of 
his  former  Colleague,  the  Rev.  Mi.  William 
Cooper  ,  fome  of  his  moft  ufeful  and  fhin- 
ing  Performances.  ,  ^ 

It  will  not  be  wondered  at,  that  no 
written  Accounts  will  convey  to  Strangers 
an  Idea  of  Dr.  COL  MAN,  equal  to  what 
we  had  raifed  of  him,  who  have  been  hap 
py  in  his  Converfation,  and  feen  him  in 
all  the  Decorum  of  Pulpit-  Oratory.  Nor 
can  the  illuftrious  Senate  at  GLASGOW 
fully  know  how  gracefully  he  wore,  and 
how  well  he  adorned  their  Honours. 

His  Converfation  was  admirably  poliflit 
and  courtly,  and  all  his  Behaviour  was  that 
of  the  moft  elegant  Gentleman,  and  be 
nevolent  Chriftian.  ^  JfJvrA 

But  he  principally  fhone  in  the  Defk  : 
Here  his  Air  was  compofed  and  grave,  his 

Adion 


PREFACE. 

A&ion  juft  and  delicate,  and  his  Voice 
inimitably  foft  and  tuneful,  managed  with 
the  greateft  Propriety,  and  exquifite  Sweet- 
nefs  of  Modulation.  His  Di&ion  was  ani 
mated  and  lofty,  but  eafy  and  plain,  like 
his  Models,  the  infpired  Clafficks  :  And 
the  Arrangement  of  his  Style,  and  the 
Turn  of  his  Periods  exactly  adapted  to  the 
Elevations  and  Cadences  of  his  own  muii- 
cal  Pronunciation,  He  had  a  fine  Tafte 
for  the  fublimer  Improvements  of  modern 
Philofophy.  On  thefe  Themes  how  would 
he  take  Fire,  and  with  uncommon  Beau 
ties  of  Imagination,  a  Dignity  of  Senti 
ment,  and  an  Ardor  of  Divine  Eloquence 
tranfport  an  Audience,  with  a  Devotion 
near  to  angelical  !  Witnefs, among  others, 
his  fecond  Difcourfe  on  the  Incomprekenfi- 
blenefs  of  GOD. 

Though  the  fineft  of  his  Productions 
have  never  been  printed —  fome  of  which 
might  have  appeared  upon  this  Occasion, 
if  the  Appendix  to  this  Eflay  had  not  been 
fuppreffed. 

If  the  Reverend  Author  of  this  Hiftory 
had  not  expreft  his  Disinclination  to  any 
Encomium  from  us,  yet  it  had  been  im 
pertinent 


PREFACE. 

pertinent  in  itfelf^  and  perhaps  afluming 
in  us  to  attempt  one,  as  he  is  our  elder 
Br  other  )  and  has  been  long  known  to  the 
World,  and  refpedted  for  his  Learning  and 
Piety,  and  his  Praife  is  in  the  Churches  for 
his  Ufefulnefs,  Courage  and  Fidelity. 

It  may  rather  feem  that  we  ourfelves 
need  an  Apology,  for  our  Names  appear 
ing  in  this  Place,  unlefs  the  Defire  of  our 
valuable  Friend,  the  Relation  we  flood  in 
to  Dr.  COLMAN,  the  Regards  he  was 
pleafed  to  fhew  us  in  his  Life-Time,  and 
in  his  loft  Will  leaving  to  fome  of  us  the 
Care  of  his  Papers,  be  our  Excufe. 

May  the  glowing  Examples  here  exhi 
bited,  infpire  Survivors  to  an  Imitation  .: 
May  the  Mantle  of  the  afcended  Pro 
phet  fall  upon  his  Sons  in  the  Miniftry, 
and  particularly  may  our  worthy  Brother 
the  Writer  of  the  enfuing  Narrative,  high 
in  his  Father's  AffedHon  and  Efteem,  in 
herit  a  double  Portion  of  his  Spirit*!  3H 

Thefe  are  the  Wifhes  and  Prayers  of 


:JJT/»  I*.  M. 
*'  I'M  Ellis  Gr* 

Samuel  Cooper., 


THE 

CONTENTS. 


CHAP.     I. 

DR.  Co/man's  Birth  and  Parentage  Page  i 

His  Education  under  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheevcr  2. 

Genius  for  Learning  and   Advances  in  it  ibid 

Early  Devotion  and  Piety  ibid 

Behaviour  at  Harvard-College  3 

Beginning  to  preach  at  Medford  ibid 

An  early  Inftance  of  his  catholick  Spirit  4 

His  Delire  to  fee  England,  and  imbarking  for  it  ibid 

CHAP.       II. 

A  large  Narration  of  his  Voyage  5 

Danger  of  being  foundered  6 

Meeting  with  a  French  Ship  of  War  ibid 

Behaviour  in  the  Fight  ibid 

An  Account  of  a  young  Rake  on  Board  ibid 

Taken  and  flript  7 

Madam    Allairis  Kindnefs  to  him  8 

His  Bible  found  and  fent  him  ibid 

CHAP.     III. 

Of  what  he  met  with  in  France  10 

His  Imprifonment  1 1 

Kindly  fuccoured  and  fupplied  by  Mr.  Welch  ibid 

Accofted  by  a  young  Prieft  at  Rennes  1 2 

Set  at  Liberty,  and  embarking  for  Port/mouth  1 3 

Again  in  Danger  of  being  foundered  ibid 
Charity  to  hisx  Fellow-  Prisoners  ill  -requited  13,  14,  15 

His  DifcburfeXwith  a  Quaker  on  New -England  Affairs  14 

In  Danger  of  being  robbed  and  murdered  16 

CHAP.     IV. 

His  Reception  at  London  by  Mr.  and  Madam  foes  17 

His  Brother's  Kindnefs  to  him  ibid 

Acquaintance  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Quick  1 8 

A  dangerous  Sicknefs,  and  Recovery  from  it  ibid 
Invited  by  Mr.  and  Mad.  Parkkurjl  to  take  Lodgings  at  their 

Houfe  ibid 

Attended  the  Miniftry  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howe  ibid 
Invited  by  him  to  go  to  Rotterdam,  in  Order  to  fettle  in  a 

Church  there  1 9,  20 

Waited  on  King  William  with  Dr.  Bates,  &c.  20 
Acquaintance  with  Dr. Daniel  Williams  and  Dr.  Edmund  Calamy  2 1 
An  Account  of  aDifpute between  Dr. Williams  and  Mr.  Howe  21,22 

The  Manner  of  Dr.  Annejleys  Death  .ibid 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Bever/ey's  Prophecy  and  Character  23 

An  Account  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fleming  ibid 
Vifits  to  the  Univerfities  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  23  and  26 

Acquaintance 


The   CONTENTS. 

Acquainted  with  Sir  Henry  djhurft,  Baronet,  Sec.  24 

Verfes  on  his  Daughter  ibid 

A  Robber  taken,  and  Mr.  Caiman's  Speech  to  him  25,  26 

Chofen  by  the  Prefbyterian  Board  at  London  to  go  down  to  Cam 
bridge  to  preach,  and  went  ibid 
Invited  to  preach  for  a  Time  at  the  great  Town  of  Ipfavich  in  Suf 
folk,  and  went  27 
His  Chaftity  afiaulted  by  three  lewd  Women  ;  \  ;Jn  -  ibid 
Acquaintance  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burkit  of  Dedham  28 
Character  of  Mr.  Gale  29 
An  Account  of  his  Land  Tortoift  30 
Again  in  Danger  of  being  robbed  ibid 
Attended  the  SeiTioris  at£w? — My  Lord  chief  Juftice  Holt's  Speech 

ibid 

Chofen  by  the  Prefbyterian  Board  to  go  down  to  Bath  and  preach 
there  and  went  3  r 

Some  Remarks  on  private  Baptifms  3  z 

An  Account  of  a  profane  Wretch  at  Bath  ibid 

A  remarkable  Story  of  an  Apparition  there  3  3 

Another  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cummins^  killing  a  Robber  35 

Acquaintance  with  Philomela,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Singer 
Several  entertaining  Particulars  of  that  Family  36,  37,  38 

Character  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Singer  30 

CHAP.     V.  ;^4J 

Invitations  given  him  to  return  to  New-  England,  by  a  Number  of  Gen 
tlemen  and  Divines  41,  42,  43 
An  Account  of  his  Ordination  Jit  London  ibid 
Character  of  the  Perfons  aflifting  4$ 
Imbarking  for  Bofton — his  Arrival  and  Settlement  here    -         46 
Letters  (ent  to  him  before  and  foon  after  by  the  Rev.  Meflirs.%rV^f 
White,  Chandler,  Standeu,  and  Mr.  Walter  Singer,   and  Mrs.  Eli 
zabeth  Singer                                                                     47,  48,  49 

CHAP.     VI. 
Many  eminent  Services  done  by  him  after  his  Settlement. 

A  general  Account  of  his  difcharging  the  Paftoral  Office  50 

Mr.  William  Cooper  fettled  with  him  and  Circumftances  ibid 

Mr.  Samuel  Cooper  fettled  with  him  and  Circumftances  52 

His  ferving  Harvard-  College  as  an   Overfeer  and  Fellow  of  the 
Corporation  5  3 

Inflances  of  his  Zeal  for  the  Good  of  that  Houfe  ibid 

Character  of  Dr.  Edward  Wiggie/worth,  Hollifian  Profeffor  of  Di 
vinity  54,  55 
His  Election  to  the  Preiidency  over  the  College  ibid 
Two  Letters,  wherein  he  excufes  himfelf  from  that  Honour  and 
Truft                                                                                    56,57 
Services  to,  and  Zeal  for  Tale  College,  and  three  Letters  about  it 

59  to  63 

Cares  and  Labours  for  the  Indian*  64 

Two 


The   CONTENTS, 

Two  Letters  (in  Latin)  to  Monf.  Lewrgiat  65  to  69 

His  Concern  for  poor  Places  within  our  Governments,  deftitute  of 

the  Gofpel  69,  70 

A  Projection  for  fetting  up  Charity- Schools  in  Bofon      70,71,  72 

A  Propofal  for  a  Fund  in  the  Churches  73  to  77 

His  Vifits  to  Schools,  Prifons,  &c.  ibid 

Encouraging  the  Market  in  Boflon  78 

Inoculation,  &c.  ibid 

Employ'd  by  the  Great  and  General  Courts  in  many  Services 

Writes  to  Governors,  Agents,  &c.  79 

His  Conduft  with   Regard  to  intermedling  with  Civil  and  Secular 

Matters  vindicated  80 

Highly  honoured  and  much  employed  by  his  Brethren  in  the  Miniftry 

ibid 

Copies  of  feveral  Addreffes  draughted  by  their  Defire       8 1  to  94 
Some  Inftances  of  his  ardent  Love  to  the   Churches  and  Csre  of 
them  94,  95 

His  catholick  and  pacifick  Spirit — Inftances  of  it  95,  96,  97 

Sentiments  on  Councils  and  their  Efficacy  97  to  108 

On  the  third  Way  of  Communion  109,  1 10 

On  the  Right  of  chufing  a  Minifter  111,112,  113 

CHAP.     VII. 
Great  Benefits  arifing  from  his  early  Travels  abroad,  and  Sagacity  at 

Home,  to  the  Country,  Colleges,  and  Churches 
A  particular  Account  of  the  Honourable  Samuel  Holders  Benefacti 
ons  113  to  115 
Of  the  Honoured  Thomas  Ho//tYs  Bounties  to  1 1 7 
Of  the  Rev.  Mr.  IJaac  Hot/is''*  Charities  to  1 2 1 
His  ufeful  and  pleafant  Correfpondence  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  White 
Kennett,  Bifhop  of  Peterborough  121  to  141 
Letter  to  the  Lord-Bifliop  of  London  14*,,  143. 
To  Dr.  Hoadly  Bifhop  of  Bangor  143,  144 
To  Rt.  Hon.  Earl  of  Egmont  144,  145,  146 
To  Sir  Richard  Ellis,  Bart.  147,  148 
His  Acquaintance  and  Correfpondence  with  Henry  Newman ,Efq;  146 
With  Mr.  Shower,  Drs.Harrh,  Watts,  Calamy,  Evans,  Hunt,  Guife, 

Mr.  Neal,  &c.  &c.  &c Sir  William  JJhurJt,   Lord  Barrington 

Stuttt  &c.  Friendfliip  with  Rev.  Mr.  Standen  149,  1 50 

Letter  (in  Latin)  to  the  Rev.  Samuel  Urlfperger,  and  his  Anfwer 

152  to  157 

His  Diploma  from  the  Univerfity  of  Glafgvw  1 5  7 

Addrefs  in  Return  158 

Letter  to  the  Vice-Chancellor  and  Principal  of  the  Univerfity  160 
To  the  Honourable  and  Reverend  Society  for  propagating  Chriltian 
Knowledge  in  Edinburgh  1 6 1 ,  162 

The  Doftor's  Publick-Spiritednefs,  Fidelity,  Liberality  and  Charity. 

163,  164 
His 


The    CONTENTS. 

CHAP.     VIII. 

His   Manner  of  Studying,   writing  Sermons   and  Letters,  Diligence, 
Application  and  Difpatch  165',  166 

His  Character  as  a  Preacher  167  to  170 

Encomiums  on  fome  of  his  Writings  by  learned  Men  171  to  173 
His  Manner  of  Praying  5  ot  anW  174 

Thoughts  on  Pfalmody  175  to  177 

On  reading  the  Scriptures  in  publick  178,  179 

On  ufing  the  LordV  Prayer  s:Jt  y  180 

Catechifing  and  Renewals  of  Covenant  181,  182 

His  Civil  and  Pafioral  Vifits  182 

Homiletical  Virtues  tolsn&aiv  z:.  183^  184 

Twelve  Letters  of.  Correlation  sfmuo.ir   184  —  207 

CHAP.     IX. 

Of  the  Doftor's  private  Life  ft  1%  a^c  207 

His  Marriages  f  3^  .ibid 

With  Mrs.  Jane  Clark  1 

Madam  Sarah  Clark  >   and  Circumftances  208,  209 

Madam  Mary  Frofi  J 

An  Account  of  the  Dolor's  Children  .Q'J  li  v.  foidj  ^j  f.  209 
His  Behaviour  in  the  Relation  of  a  Son  ^yfo  '\%  jdgrJl  anj  a-  2I° 
Jn  the  Relation  of  an  Hufband  ibid 

In  the  Relation  of  a  Father  o3  ^ni*  ;•  iJ."iici:3  j   ibi4 

Manner  of  educating  his  Children  K-.  j  ^;  ^  t.  211 

Solemn  Charges  and  Bleffings  given  to  his  Grandfon  213,  214 
Love  and  Kindnefs  to  other  Relatives  215 

His  Character  as  a  Friend  batoo^'jli  srfi      *^id 

As  a  Mafter  tM  .v»/{^If  >  216 

Family  Religion  217 

Clofet  Devotion,  &c.  ibid 

His  Behaviour  under  Trials  and  AfHi&ions,   particularly  fore  Be 
reavements  22O,   221,  222 

Death  of  Mr.  William  Cooper  ^223 

CHAP.    X. 

His  conftant  Mindfulnefs  of  Death,  and  Preparations  for  it  224 

Laft  Letter  wrote  to  Dr.  Awry  226 

The  Time  and  Manner  of  his  Departure  ^  ^    228 

A  fhort  Defcriptkm  of  his  Perfon  230 

Sir  Richard  Blackmoris  Lines  on  his  Orator  Tylon  applied  231 

A  Paragraph  from  Mr.  Prefident  Holyokis  Oration  ibid 

Compleat  Catalogue  of  his  Publications  *  Kxvtyd  ei!  233 

::.        :      •         .      '      • 
"          •  ,  U  JjG^airt    &    .  ' 


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.\*< 


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• 


'       C 


INTRODUCTION. 


r^/r^%^p3pS  < 

;/%^r;-^  ''  $!$?»,  *i  "  $$ |Hjiy.'      3 

IT  is  an  Obfervation  of  one  of  the  greateft  Men, 
and   fineft  Writers  of   the  laft  Age,  concerning 
Perfons  eminent  for  Learning,  Piety  and  Ufefulnefs 
deceafed,  "  'that  either  mt  a  little^  or  nothing  at  all 
ought  to  le  faid  —  Their  fplendid   Works  and  Services 
publickly  known   are  thought  C  by  fome  )  abundantly 
fafficient  to  fupply  the  Want  rf  an  Hiftory  of  their 
Lives,  hence  it  has  been  faid, 


•^i-)    fifi  <"vttf    o(     03 
Difla  et  Fafta  Eorum  funt  Memorise  Eorum 

•     '  •  fcripta  loquuntur.  — 

D3HW  Gj    fTi'        .    •-..-•   :  :   *     :.  »*c-         -*  :;.;••£ 

But  I  rather  triinfe,  That  the  truly  Great  and 
Good  fhould  have  their  Speeches  and  Adtions  at 
large  narrated  and  faithfully  tranfmitted  to  Pofterity  for 
their  Excitation  and  Imitation.  —  That  fuch  ought  not 
to  Be  laid  in  the  Grave  with  Silence  and  Difregard  feems 
to  have  been  the  common  Senfe  of  Mankind  from  the 
Beginning  of  Time  —  Accordingly  Heathens,  Jews  and 

Chriftians 


INTRODUCTION. 

Chrifttans  have  endeavoured  by  all  the  various  Methods 
that  Art  could  invent  to  perpetuate  the  Names  and 
Memories  of  their  refpe&ive  Heros  and  Patrons^  and  as 
far  as  poffible  to  confer  a  Kind  of  Immortality  upon 
them. 

It  mufl  be  confefled  that  few  are  qualified  to  draw  a 
fuperiour  Character  •,  and  do  Juftice  to  "the  Memories  of 
fome  excellent  Perfons.  It  is  an  agreable  Rule  and 
Caution  I  have  lately  met  with,  fcil.  "  That  as  the 
Lives  of  good  and  great  Men^  require  Jkilful  Pens  \  fo  the 
Writer  Jhould  be  animated  with  a  Portion  of  that  Genius 
that  formed  the  Character  whofe  Perfon  he  draws  "  f  whieji 
agrees  very  well  with  the  famous  Saying  of  Livy  on  the 
Roman  Orator,"  That  to  give  CICERO  his  due  Praifes 

demands  a  Ciceronian  Eloquence. 

:i£    ^bfoilcL'Cji 

It  will  doubtlefs  then  be  Matter  of  juft  Wonder  to 
many  to  find  me  engaging  in  a  Work  of  this  Nature  fo 
every  Way  unequal  to  the  Subjeft,  and  therefore  very 
unfit  to  fet  it  in  its  proper  Points  of  Light.  But  fince 
no  one  has  appeared  on  the  important  Occafion  to  write 
and  print  (  not  fo  much  as  a  Funeral  Difcourfe  pub- 
lifhed  )  |  neither  my  want  of  mental  Powers,  nor  my 
prefent  broken  State  of  Health  fhall  difcourage  me 
from  making  an  humble  Attempt  to  pay  fome  Honours 
to  the  Memory  of  fo  great  a  Benefactor  of  his  Country 

f  Nel/en  in  his  Life  of  Bifoop  Bull. 

|j  One  fhort  Eclogue  has  been  printed  fince  I  began  the  Narrative^ 
And  a  brief  Character  given  in  the  publick  Prints. 

and 


i  N  r  R  o  D  u  cr  i  o  N. 

and  to  Mankind,  who  might  juftly  lay  Claim  to  that  En 
comium  in  Pliny's  Account  of  True  Glory,   He  did  what 
defenes  to  be  written,  and  wrote  -what  deferves  to  be  read. 
And  I  readily  own  I  have  one  Advantage  which  1  fhall 
endeavour  to    improve    to  the  utmoft   from  the    near 
and   happy  Relation  «  I  fo  long  flood  in  to  God's'  de- 
ceafed  Servant,  whereby  I   tame  'to  know   more  fully  his 
Dolirine,  manner  of  Life,  Purpofe,  Faith,  Long-buffering 
Charity,   Patience  fcfc-than  mod   others  -My  Aim 
and  Ends  (  I  truft)  are  high   and  worthy,  fell.    "  That 
the  great  God'  may  be  glorified  for  his  Gifts  and  Graces, 
Image  and  Perfections  which   fhone  fb  ilbftrioufly1  itf 
h*  Servant  v  and   that  all  who  read   this  amiable  and 
ufeful  Life  may   be  fweetly  confirmed  ft  to  an  Imita 
tion  of  it  fo  far  as  it  lhall  be  found  comformable  to  the 
Gofpel  of  .God  our  Saviour.  — 

I  hope  I  have  been  preferred  in  a  good  Meafure  from 

:  Err*r  which  many  Biographers  and  Eulogijl,  infen- 

bly  n,de  into  in  Narratives  of  this  kind,  fcil.  Making 

the,r  Subjeft  to  excell  in  every  Thing,  by  drawing  a 

perfeft  Charaaer(  as  of  a  good  Magiftrate,  Minifer 

&c.  )  without  Ihowing  us    the  Man,  fcil.  thofe  particu- 

lar   excelling  Qt^lities    which  diftinguifh    him    from 

-  which  is  as  if  a  Painter  or  Limner  fhould  draw 

Beauty  for  every  agreable  Perfon  that  fits  for 


their 


INTRODUCTION. 

their  Pifture  ;     not  regarding  their  peculiar  Lineaments, 
and  more  firiking  Features. 

I  have  been  at  much  Pains  and  Labour  in  Compiling 
and  Methodizing  the  Narrative,  all  excepting  fome  Parts 
of  the  firft  fhort  Chapters  being  collated  from  vaft 
Numbers  of  fcattered  Papers  &c.  The  moft  of  that 
which  is  properly  the  Doflor's  own  (  particularly  his 
Letters  )  are  taken  from  firft  rough  Draughts  and  printed 
off  without  any  material  Alteration,  and  therefore  cannot 
be  fuppofed  to  be  fo  correeT;  as  they  arc  in  the  Hands 
qf  his  correfponding  Friends.  •  j^ 

If  the  Work,  imperfect  as  it  is,  be  kindly  accepted, 
and  anfwers  the  high  and  noble  Ends  I-  had  in  View, 
I  fhall  rejoice  and  think  myfelf  well  rewarded 


E.    T. 


. 

-iJ3! 

:    mid 


.T    .-        7         •;,,,„,;  ;^- 


THE 

LIFE  and  CHARACTER 


Of  the  Reverend 


Benjamin  Colman,  D.  D. 


CHAP.     T. 

The  Subject  of  the  Narrative,  his  Birth, 
Parentage,  Genius  for  Learning,  early 
Piety,  catholic  Spirit,  Defire  to  fee 
England^  and  embarking  for  it. 

DR,  BENJAMIN  COLMAN,   was  born  Iti 
Bqfton  New-England,  O&ober   19^167^, 
of  reputable  Parents,  being  fecond  Son  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  Colman,  who  came 
from  London  and  fettled  there  not  long  before  f. 

He  was  of  a  tender  Conftitution  from  his  Birth,  and 
very  backward  in  his  Speech  and  Reading  'till  he  arrived 

•f-  William  Colman  was  Son  of  Matthew  and  Grace  Co/man  of 
Sattcrly,  near  Beckles,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  and  baptized  there 
Auguft  3ift  1643.  This  is  all  I  can  find  concerning  his  Family.  —  « 
But  the  Name  Colman  is  happy  and  honoured  in  the  Chriftian  Britijb 
Church,  from  Time  to  Time  —  Colman  a  Scotch  Monk  fucceeded  Finan, 
in  the  Reign  of  O/Hvig  King  of  the  Northumbrians  ,  and  was  at  the 
Head  of  the  Scotch  Priefts  and  Monks  in  Oppofition  to  the  Romifli 
Church  Anno  Dem.  66  1,  and  664.  Vid,  £fdt  and  Raft'*, 

B  to 


*       . ;  fffe- .L ;I;F E;avd   CHARACTER 


to  the  Age   of  Jive  Tears  ;  when  at   once  he  grew  for 
ward  in  both,  and   entred    young   and    fmall   into  the 
Grammar  School  under  the  Tuition  of  the  venerable  and 
learned   Mr.    Ezekiel  Cheever.      His   fprightly   Genius 
and   Advances  in   Learning  were  loon  (  with  PJcafure  ) 
obferved  by  his  Preceptor,  infomuch    that  in  his  firft  and 
fecond  Years  he  was  feveral   Times  called  upon  by  him 
to  reprove  and  fhame  fome  dull  Boys  of  upper   Forms 
•when  they  grofly  failed   in  their  Catechifm,  and  fome 
low  Exercifes.     He  was  fired  with  a  laudable  Ambition 
of  excelling  at  his  Book,  and  a  Fear  of  being  out-done. 
By  his  Induftry  at  Home,  he  always  kept  foremoft,  or 
equal  to  the  bed  of  the  Form  at  School  ;  and  a  great 
Advantage  he  had  (  which  at   that  Time  gave  him  no 
little  Pain  )  in  the  Promptnefs,  Diligence  and  Brightnefs 
of  his  intimate  Companion  Prout,  who  ufcd  to  fpend  his 
Hours  out  of  School  "generally  in  Studies  with  him,  the 
two  or  three  lad  Years  of  his  Life  ;  and  their  Preceptor 
ufed  openly  to  compare  their  Exercifes,   and   fometimes 
declare  he  knew  not  which  were  bed,   and  bid  Colman 
take  heed,    for  the   firft  Time   he  was   out-done  Prout 
fhould  have  his  Place.  —  But  alas  !  a  violent  Fever  fciz- 
ed  the  lovely,  mining,  ambitious  Boy,  and  fuddenly  car 
ried  him  to  an  higher  Form,  to  the  great  Grief  as  well  as 
Hurt  of  Colman^  who  was  now  left  without  a  Rival,  and 
fo  without  a  Spur  to  daily  Care  and  Labour.     However, 
he  followed  his  Studies  fo  well  that  he  was  qualified  for 
an  Admiffion  into  Harvar-d  College  in  the  Year  1688. 

His  early  Piety  was  equal  to  his  Learning.  His  pious 
Mother  (as  he  records  it  to  her  eternal  Honour )  like 
Lemuel -s,  travailed  in  Pain  through  his  Infancy  and 
Childhood  for  the  New-Birth,  and  to  her  InftrucYions  and 
Corrections  added  her  Commands  and  Admonitions  re- 
fpecling  every  Thing  that  was  religious  and  holy  •,  and 
in  a  particular  Manner  about  the  Duty  of  praying  to 
God  in  fecret,  and  alfo  caufed  him  and  her  other  Chil 
dren  to  retire  and  pray  together,  and  for  one  another  on 
the  Lord's -Days  at  Noon. 

While 


Of    Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.  3 

While  a  School- Boy  for  a  Courfe  of  Years  he  and  feme 
of  his  Companions,  by  their  own  Propofal  to  each  other, 
under  the  Encouragement  of  their  Parents^  and  with  the 
Confent  of  their  Preceptor  ufed  to  fpend  a  Part  of  Satur 
days  in  the  Afternoon,  in  Prayer  together  at  the  Houfe 
of  Mr.  Colman,  which  continued  until  their  leaving  the 
School  and  going  to  College  ;  Mather,  Baker  ^  Prout* 
Pool,  Townfend  were  of  this  Number  ;  and  for  the  mod 
part  behaved  decently  and  ferioufly  in  thefe  early  Exer- 
cifes  of  Piety  and  Devotion. 

After  his  Admiffion  into  College  he  grew  in  Piety 
and  Learning,  and  in  Favour  with  God  and  Man.  He 
performed  all  his  Exercifes  to  good  Acceptance,  many  of 
them  had  the  Applaufes  of  his  learned  Tutor,  Mr,  John 
Leverett.  —  He  was  much  animated  to  the  Study 
of  the  liberal  Sciences,  and  to  make  the  utmoft 
Improvement  in  them  from  the  mining  Example  of  the 
excellent  Pemberton  who  was  a  Year  before  him  in  Stand 
ing  :  To  be  next  to  him  feems  to  bound  his  Ambition 
until  he  patted  his  Degrees  *  of  Batchelor  and  Matter  of 
Arts,  which  he  did  in  the  Years  1692  and  95,  under  the 
Prefidentfhip  of  the  memorable  Dr.  Increafe  Mather,  f 

Mr.  Colman  had  before  this  Time  come  into  Church- 
Fellow/hip  with  the  fecond  Church  of  Chrift  in  Bofton, 
under  the  paftoral  Care  of  Dr.  Increafe  and  Cotton 
Mather. 

And  being  devoted  to  the  Work  of  the  evangelical 
Miniftry  by  his  Parents,  and  inclining  to  it  from  his 
Childhood,  diligently  applied  himfelf  to  the  Study  of 
Divinity,  and  began  (  too  foon  as  he  was  often  pleafed 
to  fay  )  to  preach  in  the  Year  1693,  firft  privately  and 
then  publickly  ;  the  Excufe  for  which  was  the  Decline  of 

*  Sequor  licet  non  tequis  paffibus. 

•f-  When  he  pronounced  the  public  Oration  on  taking  his  Matter's 
Degree,  his  thin  and  (lender  Appearance,  his  foft  and  delicate  Voice, 
and  the  red  Spots  in  his  Cheeks,  caufed  the  Audience  in  general  to 
conclude  him  bordering  on  a  Confumption,  and  to  be  defigned  but  for 
a  few  Weeks  of  Life. 

his 


r4  72*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

his  Father's  worldly  Eftate,  after  the  Death  of  his  Mo 
ther,  whom  God  took  from  his  Head  about  three  Years 
after  his  Ad  mi/lion  into  the  College. 

He  began  his  dated  preaching  at  Medford  ('then  a  fmall 
Village,  now  a  fiourifhing  Town)  about  four  or  five 
Miles  from  Rofton,  for  half  a  Year,  to  the  general  Accep 
tance  of  the  People  there,  who  would  have  fettled  him 
had  they  been  able  ;  and  then  returned  to  his  Chamber 
in  the  College,  to  perfect  his  Studies  till  he  took  his 
fecond  Degree  ;  and  within  three  Weeks  after  he  had 
commenced  Matter  of  Arts,  he  embarked  for  London  in 
the  Heat  of  King  William's  War  with  the  French  King, 
having  a  ftrong  Defire  to  fee  England ',  and  make  Im 
provement  by  what  he  could  fee  and  learn  there. 

Juft  before  his  Voyage  the  reverend  Minifters  of  the 
North-Church  in  Eojion  fent  him  to  Newport  on  Rhode- 
I/land,  at  the  Church's  Expence,  to  preach  there  a  Sab 
bath,  which  was  tiisjirft  publick  Appearance  and  Difplay 
of  his  catholic  Temper,  Modefty  and  Conftancy,  which 
his  tutors  much  praifcd  him  for  on  his  Return. 

The  Government  there  had  given  the  Town-Houfe  for 
the  Mifllonaries  from  the  Bay  to  preach  in  ;  who  had 
us'd  it  for  that  Purpofe  fome  Months  before  ;  but  a  Mi- 
nifter  of  the  Church  of  England  happen'd  to  overtake 
Mr.  Colman  and  Company  on  the  Road,  on  Saturday  in 
the  Afternoon  and  went  into  Newport  with  them. —  On 
the  Lord's- Day  Morning  Notice  was  brought  to  him  that 
this  Minifter  had  got  the  Governor's  Leave  to  preach  in 
the  Town-Houfe  the  Forenoon,  and  that  in  the  After 
noon  he  might  take  his  Turn. —  Mr.  Colman  told  the 
Gentlemen  he  would  go  and  join  with  the  Minifter,  and 
prayed  them  all  to  accompany  him,  that  they  might  dif- 
appoint  the  Quakers  who  officioufly  and  openly  played 
this  Gentleman  ag'ainfl  them,  and  give  them  an  Example 
of  Charity  and  Accord  in  worfhipping  together,  and  of 
Unity  in  keeping  the  Sabbath  :  Which  accordingly  they 
did,and  dined  together  at  a  Gentleman's  Houfe,  Col.  S — d. 
But  when  the  Minifter  faw  Mr,  Colman  take  out  his  Bible 

after 


Of  Dr.    BENJAMIN    COLMAN.  5 

after  Dinner,  he  civilly  told  him  that  he  fuppofed  he  had 
no  Intention  of  preaching  in  the  Afternoon^  for  the  Go 
vernor  had  given  him  the  Ufe  of  the  Town-Houfe  for 
that  Day.  The  Governor  was  immediately  fent  to  and 
owned  it,  faying,  That  the  Gentleman  had  told  him  he 

was  the  King's  Minifter  &c. — Upon  which  Col.  S d, 

Mr.  B jy,  Mr.  C n  &c.  told  Mr.  Colman  that 

he   fliould  preach   for  them  at  Mr.  B y*s-  Houfe, 

•where  they  would  throw  open  the  Windows  about  which 
the  People  might  gather  to  hear,  which  was  confented  to, 
provided  it  could  be  done  without  Noife  or  Confufion  ; 
\vhich  being  intimated  to  the  People,  the  whole  Morning 
Audience  in  a  Manner  reforted  to  the  private  Houfe  in 
the  graved  Manner  imaginable,  and  heard  him  to  their 
great  Satisfaction.  An  early  Inftance  this  of  his  Piety 
and  Difcretion,  Charity  and  Peaceablenefs,  Refolution 
and  Steadinefs  :  and  fhows  the  Meanefs  and  Shame  of  a 
contrary  Temper  and  Maragement.' 


CHAP.    II. 

A  Voyage  to  England^  Dangers  and 
Hardflnips  undergone  in  it, — taken  Prl- 
foner  and  carried  into  France. 

IT  was  after  the  Twentieth  Day  of  July  in  the  Year 
1 695  that  Mr.  Colman  imbarked  for  London  (by  the 
Will  of  God)  on  board  the  Ship  Swan  Capt.  *Tbomas 
G*7for/ Commander — For  the  whole  three  firftDays  he  was 
on  Shipboard  he  endured  the  Extremity  of  Sea  Sicknefs, 
and  at  times  through  the  Voyage.  On  the  fourth  Day 
the  Veflel  fprang  a  Leek,  and  the  Water  was  heard  to 
pour  in  on  the  Star-board  Tack,  which  alarmed  the  Sail 
ors,  and  made  fome  of  them  remark  hisEvenefs  and  Calm- 
nefs  when  they  expected  he  fhould  have  been  much  af 
frighted.  When  the  Winds  blew  a  Storm  afterward/he 

governed 


6  Me  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

governed  his  Fears  by  looking  on  the  Captain,  Mate,  and 
Sailors  to  difcover  what  he  favv  in  their  Faces.  When 
they  came  into  the  warm  Seas,  a  Dolphin  which  they  had 
marked  with  a  Scar  on  his  fhining  Back,  kept  Company 
with  the  Ship  for  Ten  or  Twelve  Days  together,  feeding 
on  her  Bottom. 

At  the  End  of  feven  Weeks  a  Seeker  made  after  them, 
and  foon  came  up  with  them.  She  was  a  Privateer  of  20 
Guns  and  an  100  Men,  a  light  and  fleet  Ship  •,  The  Swan 
was  heavy  laden,  twelve  Guns  and  24  Men,  Sailors  and 
Pafiengers  together.  The  Swan's  Company  bore  their 
Broad-fides  and  Vollies  of  fmall  Arms  fix  or  feven  Times 
that  Afternoon,  defending  themfelves  and  annoying  the 
Enemy  ;  but  were  taken  the  next  Morning,  having  their 
Boltfprit  fhot  away,  and  the  Maft,  and  Rigging  fo  torn 
and  cut,  that  the  Mafts  fell  all  together  an  Hour  after; 
by  which  means  the  Ship  became  a  perfect  Wreck,  and 
the  Company  were  much  looked  at  by  the  French  when 
they  came  into  Port.  The  French  had  a  great  Number 
of  Men  killed,  for  they  were  fo  full  that  if  a  fhot  entered 
it  muft  do  Execution. 

God  gracioufly  preferved  Mr.  Colman  in  the  Fight, 
expofed  all  the  while  on  theQuarter- Deck,  where  four  out 
of  feven  were  wounded,  and  one  mortally.  He  was  much 
praifed  for  his  Courage  when  the  Fight  was  over  •,  but 
though  he  charged  and  difcharged  like  the  reft,  yet  he 
declared  he  was  fenfible  of  noCourage  but  of  a  great  deal  of 
Feariand  when  they  had  received  two  or  threeBroadfides  he 
wondered  when  hisCourage  would  come,  as  he  had  heard 
others  talk.  In  fhort,  he  fought  like  a  Philofopher  and 
a  Chriftian.  He  looked  Death  in  the  Face,  and  prayed 

all  the  while  he  charged  and  fired, while  the  Boat- 

fwain  and  others  made  a  Frolick  and  Sport  of  it. 

There  was  a  young  Rake^  a  Paifenger  on  board,  that 
Jifped  at  Atheifm,  and  fpit  at  Religion  every  Day  of  the 
"Voyage,  who  was  now  in  the  Terrors  of  Death, — •  when 
he  faw  Mr.  Colman  take  a  Mufket,  he  was  alhamed  to 
leave  the  Deck  j  but  the  firft  Volley  of  fmall  Arms  laid 

him 


Of  Dr.    BENJAMINCOLMAN.  7 

him  flat  on  his  Belly  without  being  touched  :  when  the 
great  Guns  roared  he  would  have  crept  through  the 
Boards  to  hide  hirnfelf;  he  lay  as  one  Dead,  and  let  the 
Men  tread  on  him  or  kick  him  as  they  pleafed.  At  laft 
he  peeped  up  when  the  firing  ceafed  for  a  Minute,  and 
afked  where  they  were  ?  Mr.  Colman  told  him  they  lay 
by  to  charge  again  ;  and  in  a  Moment  he  flew  down  into 
the  Doctor's  Room,  and  was  feen  no  more  till  the  Ship 
was  taken.  Yet  this  Spark  when  fafe  in  France  was  ridi 
culing  Religion  again,  and  fcorning  the  Minifters  of  it  as 
much  as  ever. 

When  the  Ship  ilruckthe  French  Boat  came  on  Board,, 
and  the  Lieutenant  took  all  the  Crews  Moneys  and  put 
them  into  the  Boat.  The  Sea  ran  fo  high  that  Mr.  Col- 
man  was  in  great  Danger  of  falling  befide  the  Boat,  and 
when  he  was  between  the  two  Ships  could  fee  neither, 
no  not  at  Times  the  Mafts  of  either.  This  was  a  new 
Scene  of  Danger  to  him,  but  the  Approach  to  the  Priva 
teer  feemed  greateft  of  all.  As  he  got  up  the  Side  he 
found  his  Hat  and  Wigg  gone  \  and  as  he  looked  over 
the  Side  there  flood  the  young  Atheift  naked  on  the  Deck. 

His  turn  came  next  ;  but  as  they  were  haling  off  his 

Cloaths,  he  faw  a  compafiionate  Man  lifting  up  his 
Eyes  and  Hands  to  Heaven. He  cried  to  him  imme 
diately  Miferere  met  Domine  !  and  he  anfwered  him,  Are 
you  a  Minifter  ?.  And  though  he  had  often  intreated  the 
Company  not  to  call  him  fo,  he  immediately  owned  him- 
felf  to  be  one,  and  down  he  came  to  feize  him  for  him- 
felf ;  But  his  Shirt  was  off  before  he  could  get  down  ^ 
and  he  carried  him  to  his  Room,  and  took  away  Stock 
ings,  Shoes  and  Breeches  ;  and  told  him,  that  if  he  left 
them  upon  him  fome  body  elfe  would  prefently  have  them. 
At  laft  he  obtained  of  him  his  under  Pair  of  Stockings, 
by  fhowing  him  eighteen  Piftoles  in  the  Rollers  of  the 
Breeches,  but  as  foon  as  he  came  on  the  Deck  a  Fellow 
would  have  the  Stockings. 

They  then  drefled  himun  in  a  few  Rags  of  the  Sai 
lors,  which  fo  changed  him  that  none  of  the  Ship's  Crew 

knew 


8  ?be  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

knew  him,  but  would  turn  from  him  till  he  fpake  to 
them,  and  then  looked  at  him  with  Aftonifhment.  The 
Captain  fpake  Englifh  well,  to  whom  he  addreffed  for 
fome  Cloathing,  but  he  turned  from  him  with  Difdain  ; 
and  the  Prieft  afterwards  told  him  that  he  hated  him  as 
much. 

Providence  fuffered  him  to  be  fpoiled  of  all  that  he  had 
-thought  to  fave  in  cafe  he  were -taken,  but  that  which  he 
never  meant  to  fave  was  preferved  for  him.  There  was 
an  ingenious  French  Gentlewoman  on  Board,  Mad.  Allaire, 
with  four  Children,  going  to  her  Hufband  at  London* 
Mr.  Colman's  chief  Delight  in  the  Voyage  was  her  little 
Son  of  two  Years  old — whom  he  made  to  love  him  for 
his  Cakes  and  Sweetmeats.  Madam  Allaire  feeing  a  piece 
of  Gold  in  his  Hand  as  the  Privateers  Boat  was  coming 
on  Board,  afked  him  to  let  her  fave  it  for  him,  which  (he 
did,  and  it  brought  him  nineteen  Pounds  at  Nants  which 
made  him  rich  j  fo  that  what  he  had  no  thought  of  fav- 
ing  was  preferved  for  him,  and  all  that  he  had  projected 
to  fave  for  himfelf  was  loft. 

He  was  put  down  into  the  Hold  of  the  Ship  among 
his  ragged  Companions,  which  was  at  firft  grievous  to 
him  ;  but  he  found  afterward  the  fingular  Care  of  Provi 
dence  in  it  :  for  there  he  was  warm,  now  his  Cloaths  were 
taken  away  ;  and  there  he  felt  no  more  any  Sicknefs, 
the  Motion  of  the  Ship  being  nothing  fenfible  there,  to 
affect  the  Head  or  Stomach. 

He  had  been  in  the  Hold  but  half  a  Day,  when  Ma 
dam  Allaire  came  on  Board.  The  Captain  and  Officers 
of  the  Ship  treated  her  well.  She  foon  enquired  after  Mr. 
Co/man,  and  hearing  he  was  in  the  Hold,  fhe  entreated  the 
Captain's  Favour  to  him  that  he  might  be  with  them  in 
the  great  Cabbin.  When  he  refufed  that,  fhe  afked  leave 
for  him  to  come  up  and  fee  them.  This  was  granted.  But 
when  Madam  firft  faw  him  at  the  Door,  fhe  fhrieked  out 
as  if  it  had  been  a  Ghoft,  ran  to  him  and  wept  upon  his 
Neck  :  and  he  wept  with  her.  Capt.  Gilbert  burft  out 
MHO  Tears,  and  fo  did  Capt,  Andcrfon  and  his  Lieutenant, 

Pafiengers, 


+'-'ef  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  0  L  M  A  N,  C) 

PaiTcngers.  He  was  naked  from  his  Ears  to  his  Shoul 
ders,  and  Madam  covered  him  with  feme  of  her  Chil- 
drens  Linnen  to  keep  him  warm.  He  fat  an  Hour  with 
them,  eat  and  drank  and  returned  comforted  to  his 
Hold. 

Prefently  away  came  a  Lieutenant  to  him,  to  afk  him 
If  Madam  were  not  his  Wife  ?  He  told  him,  No  /  He 
faid  he  wondered  he  would  deny  it,  when  he  faw  the 
Captain  treated  her  fo  well  •,  and  they  all  knew  that  the 
Englim  Minifters  had  Wives.  He  told  him  if  Madam 
were  his  Wife  he  mould  have  no  reafon  but  to  be  proud 
of  her  and  own  her.  Why  then,  faid  he,  did  (lie  run  to 
you  fhrieking,  and  fall  on  your  Neck  ?  He  told  him,  be- 
caufe  (he  honoured  and  loved  him  as  a  Gentleman  and  a 
Minifter,  and  was  frighted  to  fee  him  ^ufed  fo  bar- 
barouQy. 

When  Mr.  Grant  the  Mate  of  the  Ship,  firft  faw  him 
put  down  into  the  Hold  with  them,  he  turned  to  thofe  that 
fat  nigh  him,  and  faid,  We  mall  bury  Mr.  Colman  in  three 
Days  Time  :  But  the  next  Day  Mr.  Colman  feeing  that 
his  Prefence  and  Company  retrained  the  Sailors  from  a 
necefTary  Chearfulnefsin  their  melancholy  Condition  -,  bid 
them  be  innocently  chearful  and  divert  themfelves  ;  upoa 
which  Mr,  Grant  (a  very  grave,  prudent  and  pious  Man, 
50  Years  old)  anfwered  with  Joy  ;  What  Mr.  Colman 
do  you  call  upon  us  to  be  cheerful  ?  What  made  us  fad 
was  to  think  you  would  die  here  of  Sorrow :  if  we  do 
but  fee  you  cheerful  we  fhall  all  be  merry. 

Among  the  Plunder  Mr.Colman's  Bible  was  found,  and 
the  Captain  was  fo  civil  as  to  fend  it  to  him,  with  a  ftri6b 
Prohibition  of  not  fhowing  it  to  any  of  his  Men.  This 
wasafingular  Favour  of  God  to  him,  the  Ten  Days  he 
was  with  them,  and  all  the  Days  of  his  Captivity. — One 
of  the  wounded  Men  was  dying  in  the  Hold,  and  he  had 
fcave  alfo  to  pray  with  him. 


B  CHAP. 


io  fbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

C  H  A  P.     III. 

What  he  met  with  in  France,  his  Suffer 
ings  and  Succours,  embarking  for 
Portfmoutby  Danger  of  being  loft, 
with  other  Remarbables  occurring  be 
fore  he  reached  London. 

AT   length  they  caft  Anchor  before  Bell Ifle,  and 
from  thence  went  up  the  River,  towards  the   City 
of  Nants.     In  the  Way  they  were  put  on  Board  a 
great  Hulk^  but  becaufeit  was  the  King's  Store-Ship  were 
not  permitted  to  lye  fo  much  asunder  the  Quarter  Deck  ; 
it  rained  and  they  threw  a  Sail  over  them,  and  Mr.  Colman 
flept  comfortably  till  the  Morning  and  took  no  cold. 

In  the  Morning  they  travelled  to  Nants. 

The  Vineyards  were  very  pleafant  on  the  Banks  of  the 
River,  and  the  Fruit  delicious  to  him,  efpecially  after  a 
tedious  fick  Voyage.  But  he  could  get  little  of  them. 

Madam  Allaire  wrote  to  her  Hufband's  Mother  at  Ro- 
cbel,  and  to  her  great  Surprize  down  came  her  Hufband 
himfelf  in  a  very  rich  Drefs :  He  had  loft  all  at  London 
and  fo  went  over  to  France^  conformed  to  the  Romifh 
Church  and  fo  enjoyed  his  Eftate. 

Madam  underftood  her  Religion  very  well,  and  was 
a  confirmed  Proteftant,  and  had  Popery  in  infinite  Con 
tempt  and  Scorn.  Her  Grief  was  unutterable  afterward, 
when  fhe  faw  her  Children  in  Danger  of  being  Papift?, 
and  her  Infants  baptized  in  the  Romijh  Way.  The  Prieft 
teafed  her  continually,  and  me  fent  Word  to  Mr.  Colman 
by  Mr.  Middltcot,  that  fhe  would  be  glad  to  be  a  Beggar 
in  England^  if  Mr.  Allaire  would  have  ftaid  there.  She 
never  was  eafy  till  fhe  got  out  of  "f  France,  into  Holland, 
at  the  End  of  fifteen  Years.  The 

•f  May  12.   1734.  This   Gentlewoman  paid  a  Vifit  to  BoJIon  from 
St.  Cbriftopbers  and  was  received  by  Mr,  Colman  with  a  furprifmg  Joy 

V-JAI 


tf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  Cot  M  AW,"  1 1 

The  firft  Night  in  the  Jayl  was  a  very  (Locking 
Scene  to  Mr.  Caiman,  but  he  took  a  Wifp  of  Straw  like 
the  Reft  to  lay  under  his  Plead,  and  flept  foundly  on  the 
Floor  till  Morning,  when  the  Door  was  unlocked  to  let 
the  Prifoners  into  the  Yard.  But  God  gave  him  and 
two  or  three  others  Favour  in  the  Eyes  of  the  Captain  of 
the  Prifon,  and  he  allotted  them  a  better  Room  by  them- 
felves,  one  Corner  of  which  they  filled  with  Straw  and 
flept  there  at  Eafe. 

Now  he  cloathed  himfelf  from  Head  to  Foot  with  about 
Three  Pounds  Ten  Shillings.  Plis  Wigg  coft  him  half  a 
Crown,  and  the  reft  was  in  proportion.  But  it  made  him 
fo  fine,  after  what  he  had  worn,  that  when  he  came  into 
the  Yard  thus  arrayed,  his  Company  did  not  know  him 
again  till  he  fpake,  which  made  them  very  merry. 

While  he  was  in  Jayl  he  and  his  Company  were  vi- 
Cted  by  one  Mr.  Welcb^  whom  God  fent  to  comfort  and 
cherifh  them.  Whether  he  were  a  Proteftant  or  no  he 
would  not  difcover  ;  but  when  Mr.  Colman  faid  to  him, 
chat  he  had  never  before  feen  fuch  Charity  ;  he  anfwered 
k  was  one  of  the  feven  A6bs  of  Mercy  to  vifit  and  relieve 

after  fo  melancholy  a  parting  38  Years  before.  And  after  mutual 
Exprefiions  of  the  moft  fincere  Joy  ilie  gave  him  a  large  and  particular 
Account  of  her  Sufferings  in  France,  and  Deliverance  from  them,  af 
ter  a  wonderful  Trial  of  Conftancy  and  Experience  of  Divine  Support 
and  Affiftance  in  Times  of  Need  till  fhe  arrived  fafely  in  Holland  ; 
which  Mr  Colman  penned  down  and  left  among  his  Papers.  A  moft 
entertaining  Hiftory,  but  too  long  to  be  here  inferted.  He  Concludes 
it  with  thefe  Words, 

"  Thus  in  old  Age  Mrs.  Allaire  and  I  have  renewed  the  Acquain- 
"  tancewe  contra&ed  in  our  Voyage,  with  only  this  Difference  that 
"  Time  has  wrinkled  and  made  us  unknown  in  Face  to  one  another, 
"  but  improved  our  Souls,  and  made  them  more  amiable  and  pleafant 
**  to  each  other.  She  is  an  excellent  Chriftian,  waiting  for  the  Con- 
"  folation  of  her  Tranflation  from  a  World  of  Evils  and  Trials,  which 
*'  the  Grace  of  God  has  glorioufly  carried  her  through  to  whofe  free 
t(  Grace  be  all  the  Glory.  May  we  meet  and  live  for  ever  in  the 
*'  Reft  that  belongs  to  the  People  of  God  above. 

This  Gentlewoman  maybe  flill  living,  a  Letter  of  Hers  to  Mr. 
Colman  being  found  in  his  Study,  dated  London,  May  1747.  wrote  with 
ijer  own  Hand  in  the  French  Tongue,  ^Et.  8 1 . 

Prifoners* 


12  We  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Prifoners.  He  faid  nothing  about  Religion,  which  a 
Papift  fo  compaffionate  as  he  was,  would  in  all  Probability 
have  done.  From  Day  to  Day  at  Noon  in  came  a  Joint 
of  Meat  drefled,  and  by  that  Time  the  Company  had 
eat  half  their  Meat  he  came  with  a  Bottle  of  Wine  hid 
under  his  Coat.  He  fent  alfo  a  Blanket  or  two  to  cover 
them.  And  when  at  feven  Days  End  they  were  going 
out  of  Town,  he  faluted  the  Provoft  that  went  with  them, 
afked  him  to  drink,  and  treated  the  Company.  So  they 
took  each  of  them  a  Penny  Loaf  from  his  Hand,  and  bid 
him  farewel :  pouring  out  their  Prayers  for  the  charitable 
Samaritan  that  had  bound  up  their  Wounds. 

Late  at  Night  they  came  to  an  Houfe  and  Barn  to 
lodge  in,  but  the  Barn  was  all  Mire  without  a  Wifp  of 
Straw.  Mr.  Colman  with  two  or  three  turned  back  to 
the  Houfe,  took  up  the  Candle  and  went  up  Stairs,  The 
good  Woman  fcreamed  out,  and  up  came  the  Provoft  in 
great  Wrath  ;  but  being  mowed  an  handful  of  Money 
the  Woman  made  a  low  Courtefy  and  fo  all  was  well. 
Mr.  Colman  travelled  Ninety  Miles  on  Foot  in  Four  or 
Five  Days  and  had  the  bed  of  the  Inn  wherever  he  came. 

At  Rennes  he  was  accofted  by  a  young  Prieft  with  a 
Crucifix  in  his  Hands,  and  a  few  Rabble  at  his  Heels,afk- 
ing  him  in  Latin  what  he  thought  of  the  Crucifix.  Mr. 
Colman  fuddenly  anfwered  him,  That  it  was  not  an  Ob 
ject  of  religious  Worfhip.  He  would  prove  (he  faid)  that 
it  was,,  fo  the  Rabble  got  about  them.  The  Provoft  told 
him  he  was  a  Minifter.  O  Diabok  \  cry'd  one  of  them. 
He  bid  the  Prieft  reprove  him.  He  faid,  no  it  was  too 
true  ;  for  ail  Hereticks  are  out  of  the  holy  Church,  and 
therefore  belong  to  the  Devil,  and  are  going  to  the  De 
vil,  and  are  Devils.  Mr.  Colman  told  him  he  would  not 
"have  him  fo  far  to  undervalue  himfelf  as  to  hold  Conver- 

lation  with  the  Devil,  and  bid  him  farewel. The  next 

Morning  he  came  very  humble  and  fawning,  telling  him 
that  the  Fathers  had  great  Efteem  of  him,  andCompa/Iioa 
to  him,  upon  the  Report  he  had  made  to  them  ;  and 
would  not  have  a  Man  of  his  Parts  and  Learning  perifh 

through 


ef  Dr.  B  E  N  j  A  M  i  N  C  o  L  M  A  N.  13 

through  Ignorance  and  Prejudice.     Mr.  Colman  prayed 
him  to  give  his  Thanks  to  their  Reverences. 

"When  he  came  near  the  Walls  of  Dinan  it  was  a  for- 
rowful  Spe&acle  to  fee  that  Part  of  them  covered  with 
Prifoners ;  but  when  they  entred  the  Town  as  many  of 
them  as  had  Money  had  Liberty  to  take  up  Lodgings,  for 
three  Pence  a  Night.  Provifions  were  exceeding  cheap, 
but  the  French  had  no  Money  to  buy.  The  whole 
Country  was  poor  that  they  pifTed  through,  and  as  for 
this  Town  it  feemed  perfectly  to  live  upon  them.  Their 
Stay  was  long  in  it  ;  two  Months  at  lead  •,  the  Caufe  of 
which  was  the  floating  Prifons  that  King  James  had  fet 
up  which  were  two  great  Hulks,  one  at  St.Malo^  the  other 
at  Dunkirk  ;  where  he  put  the  Prifoners  that  were  taken 
by  Ships  bearing  his  Commifiion.  This  the  Court  of 
England  refented,  and  would  exchange  no  more  Prifoners 
till  thefe  Floats  were  laid  down. 

At  lad  the  Paquets  arrived  at  St.  Mala,  and  there  Mr. 
Colman  and  others  embarked,  near  a  Thoufand  of  them 
on  board  three  Boats.  He  was  put  on  Board  the  largeft, 
about  9oTuns,and  had  400  Men  on  board.  They  fet  Sail 
towards  Evening,  and  fet  their  Courfe  to  fleer  clear  of  a 
Ledge  of  Rocks  a  few  Leagues  off  in  their  Way  ;  But  be 
fore  Midnight  they  were  upon  them,  and  in  the  midft  of 
Breakers.  A  timorous  Fellow  upon  the  Deck  fcreamed 
out,  and  alarmed  the  living  Lading  between  Decks,  and 
in  the  Hold.  At  once  they  aurofe,  and  the  Matters  with 
the  Men,  though  they  .called  to  them  not  to  ftir  for  their 
Lives,  left  the  VefTel  upon  fuch  a  Motion  within  mould 
not  feel  her  Helm.  But  they  had  as  good  have  fpoke  to 
the  Wind  ;  every  one  were  for  running  to  feethemfelves 
die  in  the  Dark  ;  and  Mr.  Colman  was  left  alone  in  the 
Cabbin,  with  a  poor  trembling  Gentlewoman  and  her  two 
Daughters  from  Barbados. 

He  had  eight  Piftoles  left  of  his  Money  when  the  Pa 
quets  arrived.   He  kept  two  to  carry  him  to  London^  and 
the  other  fix  God  gave  him  an  Heart   to  give  among  his 
poor  Countrymen  to  redeem  a  few  of  them  from  remain 
ing 


fcp          fbg  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

ing  Prifoners  for  Debt.  God  wonderfully  repaid  him 
this  his  Charity  to  his  Companions  in  Tribulation  foon 
after  his  Arrival  at  London  as  you  will  hear.  \ 

They  landed  at  Porlfmoutb  before  the  End  of  two 
Days,  but  what  with  Sicknefs  and  Cold  hisThroat  feemed 
to  be  clofed  up  :  But  a  warm  Supping  and  Bed,  by  the 
Blefling  of  God,  made  him  well  the  next  Morning. 

He  had  lent  go/  to  a  young  Spark  from  New-Tork. 
He  told  him  of  a  rich  Uncle  he  had  half  Way  to  London, 
and  prayed  him  to  lend  him  one  of  his  Piftoles,  to  be  re 
paid  there.  He  hired  Horfes  prefently  and  they  mounted, 
but  he  had  alfo  bought  himfelf  Bootlaflies,  &c.  So  that 
before  they  reached  his  Uncles  their  Moneys  were  gone, 
and  their  Horfes  had  done  their  Stage. 

His  Uncle  was  a  wealthy  Quaker  and  received  them 
gravely.  But  noCredit  would  he  give  to  this  his  Nephew, 
he  knew  him  too  well  he  faid.  Mr.  Colman  told  him 
what  Credit  he  had  given  to  him,  and  faved  him  from 

the  Expences  of  Portfmoutb At  Table  the  good  Man 

talked  over  the  fad  Story  of  New-England* s  y&kc\&\ng  and 
hanging  the  Quakers.  Mr.  Colman  informed  him  what  a 
flrange  Sort  of  People  the  Quakers  were  then,  and  what 
Provocations  they  gave  our  Fathers  •,  how  they  difturbed 
our  worfhipping  Aflemblies,  and  fometimes  appeared  in 
an  indecent  and  terrifying  Manner  to  our  timorous  Mo 
thers  :  But  after  all  he  con^fTed  to  him  it  was  wrong  in 
us  to  return  their  Perfections  of  us  in  the  Manner  we  did, 
and  that  the  People  of  New- England  all  thought  fo  now.  f 

Mr. 

f  Vid.  Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  Account  of  them  in  his  Hiftory  of  New- 
England^  Book  VII  Page  22,  23.  &c. 

They  oppofed  the  good  Order  both  Civil  and  Sacred,  ere&ed  in 
the  Colony.  ^ —  They  broached  innumerable  Herefies,  and  commit 
ted  innumerable  Diforders. The  Warm  Zeal  of  our  Fathers  here 
upon  moved  them  to  make  many  (harp  Laws  againft  them  hoping  by 

the  Terror  of  them  to  prevent  the   Mifchiefs  threatned -And  the 

Government  unhappily  proceeded  to  the  Execution  of  feme  of  thefe 
laws  in  fcourging  and  then  banifhing,  and  upon  their  Return  hanging 
Three  or  Four  of  the  chief  Offenders. — But  all  thefe  Laws  have  been 

Difclaimed 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N."  15 

Mr.  Colman  then  prayed  him  to  advife  him  how  to  get 
to  London.  He  told  him  he  would  lend  him  Money  to 
carry  him  thither.  Lodge  here  to  Night,  faid  he,  and 
I  will  have  an  Horfe  and  Guide  for  Thee  in  the  Morn 
ing.  The  good  Family  entreated  him  courteoufly  in  the 
Evening,  and  in  the  Morning  his  good  Hod  lent  him 
Twenty  Shillings  :  which  he  called  fora  Fortnight  after 
and  received,  with  moft  hearty  Acknowledgments.  But 
his  Kinfman  never  repayed  a  Farthing  of  the  Moneys  he 
borrowed. 

There  was  another  young  Gentleman,  a  Rake  with  a 
fober  Face,from  Barbados.  He  travelled  with  the  Com 
pany  from  Nants  to  Dinan,  and  was  lodged  in  the  fame 
Chamber  with  Mr.  Colman.  For  him  he  paid  Fifty  Shil 
lings  in  France,  and  in  the  End  had  like  to  have  had  his 
Throat  cut  for  it.  When  this  Spark  came  to  London  he 
found  Sir a  Barbados  Knight  •,  an  old  gaming  Com 
panion  of  his,  and  won  an  handful  or  two  of  Guineas  of 
him.  The  Moneys  bought  him  two  or  three  fine 
Suits,  and  Linnen  agreeable.  Which  was  no  fooner  in 
his  Lodgings  but  he  and  his  Clothes  were  out  of  them, 
and  he  fhipped  off  to  Barbados  again  without  paying  a 
Penny. 

He  bragged  how  generous  he  had  been  to  good  Mr. 
Colman  and  given  him  FivePounds  for  his  Fifty  Shillings. 

difclaimed,  renounced  and  repealed  'for  Threefcore  Years  pad,  and 
therefore  Mr.  Colman  could  fay  that  the  People  of  New- England  were 
of  another  Spirit  and  Temper  in  his  Day.  At  prefent  the  Quakers  are 
not  fo  much  as  obliged  by  any  Law  of  the  Province  to  pay  Rates  for 
the  Support  of  the  Standing  Miniflry  in  the  Towns  where  they  live. 
And  it  is  found  that  they  have  decreafed,  as  our  good  Treatment  of 

them,  and  Mildnefs   towards  them  has  increafed. What  a  Divine 

of  our  own  Writes  is  now  almoft  univerfaliy  confented  to,  Viz.  A 
Man  who  is  a  good  Neighbour,  and  a  good  Subjetf ,  has  a  Right  unto 
his  Life  and  the  Comforts  of  it  ;  And  it  is  not  his  being  of  "This  or 
That  Opinion  in  Religion,  but  his  doing  of  fomething  which  Hireclly 
tends  to  the  Hurt  of  Human  Society  by  which  this  Right  can  be  for 
feited. 

God  grant  the  Monjler  Perfection  may  never  more  appear  in  any 
Shape  among  us. 

A 


i6          tte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

A  Friend  of  Mr.  Col-wan*  s  was  faying  in  the  Coffee  •  Houfe 

he  wondered  at  L for  abufing  him  after  this  Manner, 

and  a  Sharper  that  flood  by  took  up  the  Argument  in  L— 
Favour  ;  faid  he  was  well  acquainted  with  him,  and  would 

fhew  him  his  Lodgings. He   faid  he  had   Money  to 

fpare,  and  he  would  pay  him. 

Mr.  Colman  was  fo  overfeen  as  to  go  with  the  Man 
upon  his  Friend's  Advice.  Accordingly  they  took  Boat 
and  rowed  up  to  Chelfea.  He  led  him  to  an  Ale-Houfe 
over  againft  the  Knight's  Lodgings.  The  Servants  of  the 
Houfe,  and  the  Mailer  of  the  Ale-Houfe  told  him  that 
L — —  was  returned  to  Barbados  above  a  Week  before. 
By  their  looking  on  his  Companion,  they  faw  that  he  had 
known  it.  So  Mr.  Colman  found  himfelf  kidnapt  ;  and 
\vhat  remained  was  to  get  out  of  his  Hands  as  well  as  he 
could. 

He  dined  him  handfomely  at  the  Ale  Houfe,  and  was 
For  returning  by  Water,  but  finding  no  Boat  and  the  Sun 
haftning  down  they  walked  over  the  Fields  to  St.  James's. 
On  the  Way  Mr.  Colman  faw  his  cut-throat  Companion 
on  the  Look  out  at  every  By  place,  and  expected  to  be 
robbed,  if  not  worfe.  But  he  fhewed  no  Fear,  and  Hea 
ven  (to  which  he  cryed)  protected  him.  Some-body  or 
other  always  appeared  on  the  Way. 

When  they  had  patted  by  Whitehall  it  grew  dark,  and 
Mr.  Colman  found  himfelf  pufhed  in  an  Inftant  into  a  blind 
Ale-HouJe^  and  his  Companion  caught  him  by  the  Hand 
and  faid,  we  muft  drink  one  Mug  more  at  parting.  Mr. 
Colman  faw  the  Servitor's  giggle,  paying  great  Refpecl: 
to  this  his  Gentleman  as  a  Man  of  Figure,  and  ready  to 
aflift  him.  So  he  put  the  bed  Face  he  could  on  it,  and 
while  the  Ale  was  drawing  he  told  him  that  he  was  a 

Solicitor,  that  he  knew  where  L y  was   and  would 

have  him  next  Morning,  but  he  muft  have  Six  Shillings 
for  a  Writ  and  Charges.  Mr.  Colman  was  glad  to  give 
him  the  Money  had  it  been  fix  times  as  much  to  get  rid 
of  him  •,  and  they  both  laughed  at  parting  for  very  dif 
ferent  Reafons. 

Hitherto 


•9f    Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.'  i  j 

r  Hitherto  his  Charity  and  CompafTion  was  but  ill  re 
quited  by  Men,  but  within  a  little  time  it  was  abundantly 
recompenfed  by  God,  as  you  will  fee  in  the  next  Chapter. 


CHAP.     IV. 

The  Reception  he  met  with  at  London^ 
his  Acquaintance  with  Divines  and  other 
Learned  Men,  Characters  of  divers  of 
them,  Preaching  ^.t  London^  Cambridge^ 
Ipfwich,  Dedham,  and  at  Bath,  —  his 
Vifits  to  the  two  famous  Universities 
Oxford  and  Cambridge^  —  the  Honour 
and  Pleafure  he  had  in  the  Acquain 
tance  and  Friendfhip  of  Philomela^  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Singer^  &c.  &c. 

HI  S  firft  Night  at  London  was  very  melancholy.  He 
had  loft  all  his  Letters  from  New  England,   and   in 
them  his  Dire&ions  to  his  Friends  :  With  Difficulty 
he  found  out  the  Houfe  of  a  Reverend  Minifter,  but  he 
could  not  be  feen  :  It  grew  dark,  and  he  prayed  Madam 
to  direct  him  to  fome  fober  Houfe  where  he  might  lodge 
that  Night.     She  did  him  the  Favour,  and  it  looked  dar 
ker  to  him  now  than  when  the  French  turned  him  into 
the  Hold. 

But  in  the  Morning  the  pious  Mr.  Ives  made  him  full 
Amends.  —  A  Man  full  of  Grace,  Humility  Meeknefs  and 
Charity.  He  took  him  into  his  Arms  with  the  Tender- 
nefs  of  aFather,  and  Madam  chofe  him  good  Lodgings. 

His  dear  Brother  Mr.  John  Colman,  though  but  a 
young  Man  and  beginning  the  World  himfelf,  yet  like 
a  Father  to  him  gave  him  a  Bill  of  Exchange  upon  Mr. 

D  Ives 


3S         $$*  LIFE  **<*  CHARACTER 

V 

Ives  for  Thirty  Pounds  Sterling  ;  and  what  was  yet  a  fair 
greater  Piece  of  Generofity,  he  gave  him  Credit  with  him 
without  any  Limit.  He  did  not  trefpafs  on  this  his  Good- 
nefs  further  then  one  Ten  Pounds.  This  made  Forty 
Pounds  which  he  never  afked  him  to  repay. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Quick  of  London  was  the  firft  Minifter 
he  was  acquainted  with.  He  loved  the  Stranger,  and 
was  a  very  affedlionate  Gentleman  :  but  extreamly  fud- 
den  and  quick  in  his  Temper.  His  Arms  and  Houfc 
were  always  open  to  him. 

It  pleafed  God  (about  this  time,)  to  vifit  Mr.  Colman  with 
a  dangerous  Fever,  but  Madam  Ives  had  provided  him 
with  a  good  Nurfe.  Dr.  Moreton  vifited  him,  and  God 
healed  him.  Mr.  Quick  was  often  with  him  in  his  Sick- 
nefsand  cheered  him  by  faying  to  him,  "  That  he  was 
as  near  Heaven  at  London  as  at  Eoflon.  It  pleafed  God 
foon  to  recover  him. 

Before  he  got  abroad  he  was  furprifed  with  an  Invitation 
from  Mr.  and  Madam  Parkburft  in  Cheap-  Side^  to  accept 
of  half  a  Year's  Board  at  their  Houfe.  God  made  her  a 
kind  and  loving  Mother  to  him,  and  a  generous  Friend 
afterward  to  fome  of  his  Friends  from  New-England,  in 
their  Straits. 

This  happy  Lodging  at  one  of  the  mod  known  and 
frequented  Bookfellers  among  the  DifTenters,  brought 
him  foon  into  an  Acquaintance  with  the  City  Minifters, 
which  was  a  fingular  Advantage  and  Pleafure.  And  fo 
it  has  been  to  his  Country  and  theChurches  thereof  fince, 
as  will  be  feen  in  the  Sequel  of  this  Narrative. 

The  Family  attended  the  Miniftry  of  the  Reverend 
and  learned  Mr.  How  and  Mr.  Colman  with  them.  This 
brought  him  to  the  Lord's-Table  with  him  and  into  his 
Pulpit.  Mr.  How  was  pleafed  to  embrace  him  as  foon 
as  the  Exercife  was  over,  and  told  him  that  his  Church 
had  lately  chofen  the  Reverend  Mr.  Spademan  of  Roterdam 
to  be  his  Afliftant  and  SuccefTor  in  the  Paftoral  Care,'  and 
he  had  accepted  their  Call.  He  afked  Mr.  Colman  if  he 
was  inclined  to  fee  Holland^  and  &id  his  Church  would  bear 

his 


ip/  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  w7  I jj- 

his  Charges  over  ;  and  alfo  back  again  if  the  People  of 
Roterdam  did  not  chufe  him  to  be  their  Minifter,  or  if  he 
did  not  like  the  Place.  Mr.  Colman  anfwered  him,  he 
greatly  deflred  to  fee  Holland,  and  no  Terms  could  be 
more  agreeable  than  thefe  he  propofed:  The  Support 
then  was  an  Hundred  and  Forty  Pounds  a  Year,  paid  by 
the  States,  and  he  was  to  be  Colleague  with  the  Reverend 
Aged  and  Learned  Mr.  Jofeph  Hill,  by  whom  the  Greek 
Lexicon  was  corrected  and  amended. 

He  was  much  pleafed  with  this  Offer  of  Providence, 
and  fpake  openly  of  it,  by  which  means  it  came  to  Mr. 
Hill's  Ears.  For  he  was  then  in  the  City,  and  averfe  to 
Mr.  Spademan's  coming  over  ;  of  which  Mr.  How  faid 
nothing  when  he  propofed  the  Matter.  Mr.  Hill  had 
wrote  a  Book  of  the  Dominion  of  England  over  the  Nar 
row  Seas,  for  which  K.  Charles  the  II.  had  given  hi  m  an 
Hundred  a  Year  for  Life.  It  had  been  with-held,  and  he 
was  now  fuing  for  it.  He  came  to  Mr.  Colman' s  Lodg 
ings,  and  afked  him  if  he  was  the  young  Man  that  was 
going  to  Roterdam  ?  And  told  him  he  did  ill  to  act  in 
Concert  with  Mr.  How  to  get  his  Kinfman  away  from 
him  who  had  now  been  his  Affiftant  for  feventeen  Years 
in  the  Work  of  the  Miniftry.  Mr.  Colman  afked  him 
with  much  Surprife,  if  he  were  the  Reverend  Mr.  Hill? 
And  told  him  that  Mr.  How  had  never  let  him  know  that 
he  was  in  the  City,  or  that  he  was  not  confenting  to  Mr. 
Spademan's  coming  away.  He  told  him  it  was  the  Hope 
of  being  under  his  Miniftry,  Infpedtion  and  Wing  that 
was  one  great  Inducement  to  him  to  go  to  Roterdam  : 
But  fmce  he  had  the  Opportunity  now  of  feeing  him,  and 
of  afldng  his  Confent,  he  fhould  not  go  without  it.  He 
changed  his  Face  upon  this  and  faid,  "  You  fpeak  like 
an  ingenious  and  modeft  Youth,  and  have  already  made 
good  Mr.  How's  Words  to  me  concerning  you,  and  you 
deferve  a  better  Settlement  than  Roterdam.9'  But  he  nei 
ther  would  nor  could  part  with  his  Kinfman. 

Mr.  Colman  went  to  Mr.  How  and  told  him  what  had 
happened.     He .  feemed  much  furprifed  at  his  fudden 

Promife3 


20  fbs  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Promife,  not  to  go  without  Mr.  Hill's  Confent.  He  told 
him  there  were  enough  ready  to  go  :  and  fo  Mr.  Col- 
man  found  it  ;  for  before  the  Week  was  out  one 
went,  without  faying  a  Word  of  it  to  Mr.  Hill.  Hetoid 
him  Mr.  Spademan  was  refolved  to  return  to  London^  and 
that  Mr.  Hill  had  nothing  to  do  to  hinder  it :  If  the 
People  chofe,  the  States  paid  •,  and  in  fine,  that  he  had 
hurt  himfelf  by  not  ufmg  the  Underftanding  God  had 
given  him. 

At  which  Words  Mr.  Caiman's  Head  turned,  and  he 
let  him  know  it,  and  told  him  "  That  he  began  to  quef- 
tion  his  own  Underftanding  fince  he  was  pleafed  to  tax 
his  Conduct  as  he  did." He  left  him  in  feme  Amaze 
ment,  and  meeting  Mr.  Timotby  Rogers  told  him  the 
Story,  and  prayed  him  to  fet  him  right  if  he  had  erred. 
He  fmiled  on  him  and  faid,  No  ;  However  he  quefti- 
oned  whether  many  in  ImCircumftances  would  have  acted 

with  like  Horrfty  and  Simplicity. Mr.  Caiman  afked 

the  Opinion  of  another  Minifter  or  two,  who  praifed  him 
for  what  he  had  done.  But  by  this  M^-ans  he  loft  the 
Favour  of  Mr.  How  for  two  or  three  Months,  who  would 
fcarce  look  upon  him  as  he  bowed  to  him  among  the 
younger  Minifters, 

Soon  after  the  Minifters  waited  on  the  King  at  Ken* 
fington,  and  Dr.  Bates  made  one  of  his  fined  Speeches 
to  him,  upon  the  Difcovery  of  the  Affaffmation  Plot.  Ic 
happened  the  Coach  Mr.  Colman  was  in  came  firft  to  the 
Park-Gate  which  led  to  the  Palace ',  and  there  flood  the 
Reverend  Dr.  Bates  with  his  Chair  that  had  carried -him 
over  the  Stones,  through  the  City  •,  fo  he  had  the  Ho 
nour  to  give  him  his  Place  in  the  Coach,  and  walk  on 
Foot  to  the  Palace.  -The  Courtiers  clofed  about  the 
loved  King  William,  and  the  Minifters  about  the  Doctor, 
in  a  Circle  -,  and  then  the  Doctor  delivered  his  Speech  with 
an  Eafinefs  and  Gravity  that  were  peculiar  to  him,  and 
charming  to  all.  My  Lord  Chamberlain  led  the  Minifters 
down  to  a  Treat  in  the  Buttery,  where  they  eat  a  Bit  of 
the  King's  Bread  and  drank  a  Glais  of  his  Wine. 

The 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  2  j 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Daniel  Williams  (afterwards  Dr. 
Williams)  being  out  of  the  City,  Mr,  Colman  was  afked 
to  preach  for  him,  and  by  that  means  became  known  to 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Calamy  (afterwards  Dr.  Calamy}  his  Af- 
fiftant.  Mr.  Calamy  fell  into  an  endearing  Love  to  Mr. 
Ct'lman,  fo  far  as  to  tell  him  he  hoped  they  fhould  fpend 
their  Lives  in  one  Church.  And  foon  after  being  in  Dr. 
Pt  ?y's  Lodgings  at  Whitehall  the  Dodlor  enquired  after 
Mr.  Calamy  with  great  Refpeft,  and  run  out  in  Praifes 
ot  his  Book  concerning  Vows  j  faying,  that  he  had 
bought  up  thirty  of  them  for  the  Libraries  in  the  Plan 
tations,  which  were  then  forming.  Mr.  Colman  let  the 
Doctor  know  that  he  fhould  inform  Mr.  Calamy  of  the 
Honour  he  did  'him,  which  he  prcfently  did. 

Mr.  Williams  was  gone  to  Bath,  to  pafs  a  Month 
there  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Waters  :  And  Mr.  How  who 
had  much  at  Heart  a  Reconciliation  between  the  leading 
Brethren  of  the  two  Boards,  Prrjbyterian  and  Congregati 
onal,  drew  up  a  (bore  Paper  on  the  Head  of  J unification^ 
an  •  got  it  Ggntrd  by  Dr.  Zfo/£jand  others  on  one  fide, 
and  bv  Mr.  Meod>  and  Mr.  Mather  and  others  on  the 
other  fide.  Mr.  Calamy  fent  down  an  Account  of  this 
to  Mr.  Williams i  with  a  Copy  of  Mr.  How's  Paper, 
and  up  he  came  full  of  Refentment,  that  the  Opportunity 
of  his  Abfence  fhould  betaken  for  this,  as  if  he  were 
not  for  Peace,  with  Truth,  as  much  as  any  of  them. 

He  drew  up  twenty  Objections  againft:  Mr.  How'*  Pa 
per,  and  finding  none  but  Mr.  Colman  in  the  Boukfcller's 
Shop,  he  ihowed  him  (young  as  he  was)  his  Paper  of 
Remonftrance  ;  and  talked  over  the  Objections  for  an 
Hour  together. 

Mr.  Colman  thought  the  Reafons  againft  Mr.  How's 
Procedure  were  juft,  though  his  End  was  good,  fell. 
Peace  and  Unity.  But  Difpleafure  had  found  fa  He  Doc 
trine  alfo  on  the  Paper,  and  dangerous  Phrafes,  which 
fhowed,  that  too  warm  Zeal  for  Peace,  led  wife  Gentle 
men  into  a  Quarrel,  and  that  the  mod  guarded  Words 
could  notefcape  ObjecYions  when  once  we  are  angry. 

Mr. 


1<i  <T^LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Mr.  Williams  carried  his  Complaint  to  the  Board  the 
next  Monday.  It  was  a  full  Houfe  in  Expectation  of  it, 
for  the  Thing  made  a  great  Noife.  The  Care  of  the 
Board  was  not  to  fplit  it  felf  again  in  two.  Accordingly, 
they  only  chofe  a  Committee  to  take  the  two  Papers, 
and  draw  up  a  third  in  which  all  might  agree.  Dr. 

Bates,  Dr. ,  Mr,  Hammond,  Mr.  Alfop,  Mr.  Burgefs, 

Mr. were  the  Committee.     Mr.  How  and  Mr.  Wil 
liams  were  to  be  prefent,  to  offer  what  they  had  to  fay. 

.     The  next  thing  was  where  to  meet  :    Mr. —  told 

them,  "That  as  he  came  along  Mr.  Parkhurft  had  kindly 
offered  his  Houfe,  if  they  would  meet  there.  It  was 
agreed,  and  Mr.  Colman  by  this  means  heard  all  that  paf  - 
fed  between  them,  there  being  nothing  but  a  Glafs-Door 
and  Curtain  between  the  Gentlemen  and  him.  The 
Points  to  be  difputed  were  nice,  and  the  Gentlemen  of 
a  fuperiour  Character,  which  rendered  the  Hearing  a  moft 
grateful  Entertainment. 

They  were  all  very  pleafant.  Not  an  angry  Word  paf- 
fed  between  Mr.  Williams  and  Mr.  How.  A  third  Paper 
was  produced,  and  readily  aflented  to  by  all  the  eight. 
So  every  thing  was  in  Statu  quo,  and  a  great  Flame  ftifled. 
There  was  fcarce  any  Difference  between  this  third  Pa 
per  and  Mr.  How's,  only  the  Phrafe  of  Commutation  of 
Perfons  between  Chrift  and  Believers  was  left  out  •,  as  ob- 
fcure  and  needing  Explanation.  If  Mr.  Williams  had 
not  been  pacified,  by  the  perfonal  Afpect  of  Mr.  How's 
Paper  on  him  being  taken  away,  he  might  have  raifed  as 

many  Objections  againft  this  alfo. 

Mr.  Colman  had  the  PJeafure  of  dining  with  all  thefe 
reverend  Gentlemen  together,  after  this  Meeting  and 
Labour  of  Love,  and  heard  their  Wifdom  on  feveral 
abftrufe  Points,  wherein  he  was  confirmed  by  their  feri- 
ous  and  calm  Judgments. 

Dr.  Annejly's  Death  was  after  this,  but  the  Part  Mr. 
Colman  faw  of  it  was  moft  pleafant.  *  He  feemed  at  that 

*  Yet  by  the  Funeral  Sermon  upon  him,  he  pa/Ted  fome  Weeks  in 
great  Pain. 

Time 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N?  23 

Time  perfectly  at  Eafe  in  Body  as  well  as  Mind,  with 
his  wonted  Cheerfulnefs  and  Smiles,  "  Yefterday,  faid 
he,  I  loft  the  ufe  of  this  Finger,  and  the  Day  before  of 
that,  and  to-morrow  I  look  this  will  be  gone.  Brother 
Beverly,  added  he,  your  Faith  has  outran  mine  ;  but  now 
I  fhall  know  before  you  :  I  leave  you  all  in  the  Dark 
about  the  Times  and  Seafons. 

Mr.  Beverly  had  in  Print  fixed  on  the  Year  1697  for 
the  Accomplifhment  of  all  the  great  Expeftanda,  the 
Fall  of  Anticbrift,  &c.  He  was  one  of  the  m oft  humbk 
and  modeft  Men  living,  and  yet  was  fo  bold  as  to  write 
his  Thoughts,  and  fet  his  Time,  as  is  before  faid.  When 
his  Year  came  and  produced  nothing  extraordinary,  the 
good  Man  did  in  the  moft  humble  and  publick  Manner 
confefs  his  Error  and  Prefumption  ;  afking  Pardon  of 
God  and  his  People. 

In  like  manner  the  learned  Mr.  Fleming  was  a  moft  ma- 
deft  Gentleman  in  Converfation,  but  in  writing  bold  and 
daring.  His  Motto  was  Libere  fed  Modefle  :  The  Mo- 
dffte  he  wore  .abroad,  the  Libere  he  kept  at  Home,  ufcd 
it  freely,  and  fent  it  abroad  in  Print. 

Providence  now  invited  Mr.  Colman  to  fee  the  two 
Univerjities.  Sir  Henry  A  four  ft  ^  then  our  Agent  for  New- 
England^  carried  him  with  him  to  his  Country- Seat  near 
Oxford.  He  rode  twice  with  him  thither  in  his  Coach, 
and  had  the  Honour  todine  with  Dr.  Hall,  Bp.  of  #n/20/,  a 
venerable  humble,  grave  Divine.  He  waited  alio  on  Dr. 
Hougb^  Bp.  of  Oxford,  and  Mafter  of  Magdalen  College^  a 
bright  and  lofty  Gentleman,  polite  in  Drefs  and  Behaviour. 
Alfothe  Rev.Dr.Gaftrell,  fmce  Bp.  of  Cbejler,  did  him  the 
Honour  to  mew  him  the  feveral  Colleges,  and  what  was 
rare  and  curious  in  them.  He  told  Mr.  Colman  that  he 
wifhed  the  Diflenters  might  have  a  College  in  each  Uni- 
verfity  for  the  educating  their  Children  ;  He  was  per- 
fwaded  the  Church  would  then  prevail,  and  the  Scbifm 

foon  ceafe. Mr.  Colman  agreed  with  him  that  it  might 

be  a   probable  Means  of  putting  an  End  to  the  Schifm, 
the  EfTence  whereof  lay   (as  he  judged)  very   much  in 

Uncharitablenefs^ 


24  »*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Uncharitablenefs,  and  that  proceeded  from  the  Ignorance 

we  are  in  of  each  other. Thefe  noble   Perfons  alfo 

fpent  a  Day  with  Sir  Henry  at  his  Seat.  The  Bifhqp 
of  Oxford  pafied  a  Complement  or  two  to  Mrs.  AJhurft^ 
one  of  the  lovelieft  Perfons  then  in  the  Kingdom,  and 
Mr.  Colman  turned  them  upon  her  again  when  they  were 
gone  :  But  fhe  anfwered,  "  That  was  a  likely  Way  to 
itarve  indeed,  for  what  fignified  Eight  Hundred  Pounds 
per  Annum  only  for  Life"  •,  (he  afterward  married  a  Baro 
net  with  three  thoufand  a  Year  in  Land. 

It  was  a  vaft  Pleafure  to  Mr.  Colman  to  know  the  Piety 
and  Humility  of  the  \jzx\y  djhurft^  Daughter  toLd.Paget, 
and  who  inherited  the  highDevotion  of  her  nobleMother. 
The  Lady  Paget  being  taxed  once  for  marrying  her  Daugh 
ters  to  Gentlemen  of  the /#;/d//V&  Character,  replied,  I  take 
Notice,  Madam,  that  the  Gentlemen  of  that  fort  com 
monly  make  the  bed  Hufbands. 

Mr.  Colman  was  fo  happy  as  to  gain  the  perfect  Efteem 
of  the  Lady  and  her  Family.  He  lived  one  Fortnight 
alone  with  her  in  the  Country,  and  Sir  Henry  would  long 
after  rally  him  upon  his  Lady's  Fondnefs  for  him. 

Afterwards  at  London  fhe  would  not  fuffer  him  to  a- 
void  her  mod  publick  Refpects  in  the  Congregation. 
And  the  honourable  Mr.  Rromfield  came  charged  the  lad 
Time  from  London  with  higheft  ExprefTions  of  Love 
from  her  to  him.  The  Daughter  with  Mr.  Colman  ufed 
to  range  over  the  Manor  in  the  Afternoons.  She  afked 
a  Poem  from  him  :  He  told  her  it  would  lead  into  a 
Quarrel.  She  promifed  it  fhould  not  on  her  Part.  So 
the  next  Day  he  wrote  one  with  this  Title,  A  Quarrel 
with  Fortune  :  Becaufe  (forfooth)  he  was  not  equal  to 
her  in  Rank  and  Riches  —  In  it  was  the  following 
Simile, 

So  kave  I  feen  a  little  filly  Fly 
Upon  a  blazing  Taper  dart  and  die. 
?he  foolijh  Infeft  ravffid  with  fo  bright 
And  fair  a  Glory,  would  devour  the  Light. 

A 


ef  Dr.   BENJAMIN    COLMAN^  2^ 

rAt  frft  he  wheels  about  the  threatning  Fire] 
With  a  Career  as  fleet  as  his  Dejire  : 
fhis  Ceremony  faft,  he  joins  the  fame 
In  Hopes  to  be  transformed  him f elf  to  Flams. 
The  fiery,  circumambient  Sparkles  glow, 
And  vainly  warn  him  of  his  Overthrow, 
But  refolute  he9 II  to  Deftruftion  go. 

So  mean-born  Mortals,  fuch  as  I,  afpirs, 
'And  injure  with  unhallowed  Defire, 
The  Glory  we  ought  only  to  admire.  J  ; 

We  little  think  of  the  intenfe  fierce  Flame* 
?kat  Gold  done  is  Proof  againft  the  fame   ; 
And  that  fuch  Frajh  as  we  like  droffy  Lead, 
Confume  before  it,  and  it  ftrikes  us  dead. 

One  Afternoon  as  he  came  from  Oxford,  whether  the 
Steward  of  Sir  Henry  had  attended  him,  he  faw  a  Num 
ber  of  People  before  him  on  the  Downe,  and  was  fooii 
told  that  a  Robber  was  juft  taken  and  carried  to  the' 
next  Village.  He  had  the  Curiofity  to  go  into  the  Ta 
vern  and  fee  him.  He  was  a  young  Fellow  of  nineteen 
Years  old,  and  one  of  the  Company  was  telling  after  a 
boorifh  Manner,  how  he  rode  after  him,  came  up  with 
and  took  him.—  But  faid  the  miferable  Wretch,  "  I 
yielded  honourably.  "  Yes,  yes,  faid  the  other,  that 
you  did.' — Well,  'tis  but  a  Swing,  cryed  the  Robber  very 
impudently.  This  turned  Mr.  Caiman's  Companion  into 

Indignation,  and  he  faid, "  But  vile  Wretch  con- 

"  fider,  whither  that  Swing  is  ?  Is  it  not  into  Eternity  ? 
"  And  an  Eternity  of  Mifery  if  you  die  without  Re- 
cc  pentance  ;  as  you  feem  willing  and  likely  to  do  ?  Do 
"  you  like  and  can  you  bear  to  think  of,  A  Swing  in- 
cc  to  Hell,  into  unquenchable  Fire  and  everlafting 
€6  Burnings? 

A  ihivering  Horror  fell  upon  the  Villain,  and  all  the 
Room  turned  and  ftared  on  the  Preacher  ;  as  if  they 
had  never  heard  a  ferious  Difcourfe  before.  This  ani 
mated  Mr,  Colman  to  goon,  and  he  found himftlf  helped 

K  t* 


26  TO*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

to  fpeak  very  much  to  his  own  Satisfaction,  on  the  Oc- 
cafion  for  a  Quarter  of  an  Hour. 

As  foon  as  he  mounted  again,  the  Steward  faid  to  him, 
"  Sir,  you  have  preached  a  furprizing  Sermon  to  one  of 
the  mod  ignorant  and  wicked  Villages  in  England. 

While  Mr.  Colman  was  at  Sir  Henry's  pleafant  Seat  he 
received  a  kind  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  London, 
with  one  inclofed  to  the  Right  Reverend  the  Bilhop  of 
London  -,  written  as  his  Friend  informed  him  by  his 
Lord  (hip's  Order,  upon  the  Recommendation  he  had  re 
ceived  of  him  :  But  Mr.  Colman  did  not  fee  meet  to 
wait  upon  him  with  it.  At  the  fame  Time  Providence 
was  honouring  him  with  an  Invitation  to  fee  the  other 
Univerfity  :  fpr  he  was  called  back  to  London  by  a  Let 
ter  which  informed  him,  that  the  Minifters  of  the  Pref- 
byterian  Board  had  chofen  him  to  go  down  to  Cambridge ; 
the  aged  Paftor  of  a  Church  there  being  (truck  with  a 
Palfy. —  Mr.  How  feeing  him  at  his  Meeting  on  the 
Lord's- Day,  came  to  his  Lodgings  on  Monday,  and  in 
a  mod  obliging  Manner  welcomed  him  to  Town,  telling 
him  he  had  been  abfent  himfelf  three  Sabbaths,  while 
he  was  in  Oxford/hire  •,  and  if  he  had  been  in  the  City 
he  fhould  have  a(ked  Nobody  but  him  to  have  fupplied 
his  Place.  Mr.  Colman  was  glad  to  fee  himfelf  forgiven 
by  Mr.  How,  and  believed  he  was  indebted  principally  to 
him  and  the  Rev.  Meflirs.  Quick,  Williams  and  Calamy9 
for  the  Honour  the  Board  had  done  him  in  naming  him 
fa  Stranger)  for  the  Congregation  at  Cambridge. 

He  took  Coach  on  Cbriftmas  Day,  and  found  in  it  a 
Gentlewoman  of  very  good  Fafhion  and  Senfe,  with  her 
little  Daughter,  and  was  much  delighted  in  the  Journey 
with  the  agreeable  Converfation  of  the  Lady  and  Prattle 
of  Mifs. 

At  Cambridge  Mr.  Colman  found  a  fmall  Congregation 
of  inferior  People,  the  Shadow  of  the  Univerfity,  like 
that  of  all  Cathedrals,  Hunting  the  Growth  of  |he  Dif- 
fentcrs. 

They  liked  illiterate  Preachers,  and  when  Davis  and 
a  *  others 


*/  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N.  27 

Others  of  that  Sort  came  to  Town,  he  was  left  by  one 
half  of  his  Hearers.  They  were  alfo  fadly  tinged  with 
Antinomlan  Principles,  and  his  Texts  were  too  legal  for 
them.* — So  he  was  afhamed  of  his  Poll,  and  wrote  ear- 
neftly  to  London  to  be  releafed  from  it. — He  faw  all  the 
Colleges  there  after  a  Sort,  but  had  none  of  thofe  hono 
rary  Advantages  for  doing  it  as  he  had  at  Oxford. 

At  twelve  Weeks  End  he  returned  to  London^  and 
fome  of  the  City  Minifters  refolved  to  take  a  Turn  down 
themfelves.  The  Reverend  and  zealous  Mr.  Pomfrct 
went  firft  for  a  Month,  and  others  followed  him. 

But  at  length  they  got  a  handfom  Subfcription  at  Lon 
don  to  the  ingenious  and  learned  Mr.  Pearfe^  an  excellent 
Preacher,  to  fix  him  at  Cambridge  for  two  or  three  Years. 
He  went  ;  and  being  already  well  entred  into  the  Ma- 
thematicks,  foon  made  himfelf  known  to  the  learned 
Mr.  Whifton^  and  became  his  moft  efteemed  Friend.  A 
fatal  Friendmip  !  for  then  he  alfo  drank  in  Mr.  Wbiflorfs 
Arrian  Principles,  which  has  fmce  been  the  Spring  of  fo 
much  Strife  and  Confufion  and  every  evil  Work  among 

$3l8pra    .„. 

Within  a  few  Weeks  after  Mr.  Colman  was  invited  to 
the  great  Town  of  Ipfwich  in  Suffolk. — In  his  Way  thi 
ther  God  gracloufly  preferved  him  from  a  very  dangerous 
Snare,  which  three  ill  Women  laid  for  him.  He  found 
them  in  the  Stage-Coach,  fupped  with  them  in  the  Even 
ing,  and  was  retired  to  his  Chamber  :  But  as  he  was  go 
ing  to  Bed  one  of  them  knocked  at  his  Door,  and  told 
him  that  they  had  mulled  a  Glafs  of  Wine,  chiefly  be- 
caufe  of  the  Cold  that  was  upon  him,  and  he  mu ft  needs 
take  Part  of  it  with  them.  In  their  Chamber  were  two 
Beds,  and  he  heard  one  of  them  gigling  behind  the  Cur 
tains  of  the  furthermoft  Bed.  He  began  now  to  fufped: 
them,  when  one  of  them  told  him,  that  truly  they  were 
afraid  to  lie  in  the  Chamber  alone  ;  that  the  furtheft  Bed 
would  hold  them  three  -9  and  they  begged  of  him  to 

*  Like  as  at  this  Day  in  fome  Places  of  New -England. 

lodge 


crS  the  LIFE  ^CHARACTER 

lodge  in  the  neareft  Bed.  He  told  them  he  was  greatly 
furprifed  at  their  Motion,  and  afharned  of  it,  that  their 
Fear  was  groundlefs  ;  no  Danger  would  happen  to  them 
in  the  Inn  ;  if  there  were  any  he  iliould  make  a  poor 
Defence;  and  that  in  fhort,  they  utterly  forgot  what 
they  owed  to  their  Reputation  and  Virtue,  or  to  his. 
So  they  begged  his  Pardon,  and  he  fuddenly  flept  into 
his  own  Chamber. 

•  At  Ipfwicb  he  fpent  eleven  Weeks  very  pleafantly, 
and  with  much  Satisfaction  •,  but  they  needed  a  Preacher 
only  every  other  Lord's- Day.  The  excellent  Mr.  Fair 
fax  divided  his  Time  with  them  and  fome  neighbouring 
Congregations,  as  the  Bifliop  of  them  all.  Being  now 
got  to  a  plentiful  Fifh-market,  and  near  to  the  Oyfter- 
Banks,  he  began  to  think  himfelf  again  in  New-England. 
He  vifited  Tarmoutb  and  Beckles,  and  faw  his  Father's 
^Relations.  He  lodged  at  one  Mr.  Steward's,  where  he 
was  moft  generoufly  entertained. 

More  efpecially  he  there  became  known  to  the  vene 
rable  Mr.  Burkit  of  Dedbam,  which  is  eight  Miles  from 
Jpfwicb.  Mr.  Burkit  held  a  Lecture  which  he  attended. 
He  was  pleafed  to  call  him  the  befl  Hearer  that  he  ever 
had.  Every  other  Lord's- Day  almoft  Mr.  Colman 
preached  at  Dedbam,  and  the  People  fpake  of  tailing 
him  to  be  their  Minifter.  When  Mr.  Burkit  heard  of 
it  he  was  fo  good  as  to  befpeak  a  Lodging  for  him  at  the 
bed  Houfe  in  the  Town.  There  was  a  Gentlewoman, 
a  Widow,  that  had  fix  hundred  a  Year,  a  DifTenter  in 
Principle,  but  a  Conformift  for  Mr.  Burkifs  Sake,  fitting 
under  his  excellent  Miniftry  with  great  Delight.  Madam, 
faid  he  to  her,  I  hear  that  our  Congregation  of  DifTenters 
are  about  to  chufe  that  young  Man  of  Ipfwicb^tf  whom  I 
told  you  ;  if  they  do,  invite  him  to  take  his  Board  with 
you  :  It  will  be  a  Comfort  to  you  for  him  to  pray  in 
your  Family,  and  I  am  fure  it  will  be  fo  to  him  to  be  in 
your  Houfe,  for  that  little  People  can  do  but  Jittle  for 
him.  — A  teaching  Inftance  of  Moderation,  Charity  and 
Brotherly-love  this,  in  a  Churchman  to  a  Diffenter,  wor 
thy 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  0  L  M  A  N.'  £9 

thy  to  be  told  and  imitated.  —  This  is  but  agreeable  to 
what  the  Rev.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Parkhurft  (  who  writes  his 
Life  and  feems  to  be  of  the  fame  Spirit  )  records  of  this 
great  and  good  Man,  Page  49.  — "  As  he  was  a  Member 
"  of  the  Church   univerfal,  he  had  a  good  Refpect  and 
"  Efteem  for  many  of  our  diflfenting  Brethren  that  are 
<c  found  in  the  Faith,  and  holy  and  exemplary  in  their 
<c  Lives,  though  they  had  different  Sentiments  from  him 
*c  in  Matters  of  leffer  Moment  •,  and  as  he  met  with  any 
"  of  them,  converfed  with  them  freely  ;    and  I  doubt 
"  not  but  he  has  given  anacceptableAccountof  his  Prac- 
"  tice  in  this  Matter  to  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  of  whom 
"  the  whole  Family  in  Heaven  and  Earth  is  named.     But 
there  happened   at  this  Time   to  pafs   by  an  itinerant, 
powerful,  illiterate  Preacher,  who  had   been  a  Taylor  ; 
and  he   cut   Mr.  Colman  out  of  the  whole  Cloth,  as  he 
ufed  pleafantly  to  relate  it,  and  left  him  but  three  Votes. 

Mr.  Gale  was  the  chief  Gentleman  of  the  Congrega 
tion  at  Ipfwich  :  Venerable  for  his  Age,  Gravity,  Wifdom 
and  true  Piety.     When  King  James   the  II.   had  took 
away   their   Charter,  as   he  did  others,  he  named  Mr. 
Gale  Bailiff  in    his  new  one.     The  Day  came  for   it  to 
take  Place,  and  the  new  CommiiTion    was  read  in   the 
Court-Houfe.     Mr.  Gale  flood  up  and  with   great  Mo- 
defty  and  Refpect  afked,  if  there  were  any  Objection  to 
be  made  againft  the  new  Corporation   taking  Place  and 
Authority  upon  them  ?  —  When  all  being  filent,  He  to 
the  great  Surprife  of  the   whole  AfTembly  told   them, 
"  That  if  no  one  elfe  had  ought   to  object  he  muft  do 
it  himfelf.     So  in   an   handfome  Speech  he  mewed  the 
Illegality  of  the  prefent  Commiflion  •,     that  the  Town 
had  done   nothing  he   knew  of   to  forfeit  their  former 
Charter ;  and  that  it  flood  good  till  tryed  and  condemned 
in  a  legal  Procefs  ;    and  that  therefore  he  was   under  a 
Neceffity  to  refufe  the  great  Honour  which  his  Majefly 
was  pleafed  to  do  him,  how  ambitious  foever  he  was  to 
ferve  his  King  and  the  Town.     While  he  fpake  to  this 
Effect,  the  People  gazed  and  bowed,  and  were  ready  to 

worfhip 


3.o          fbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

worfhip  him  for  his  Honour,  Honefty  and  Courage.— 

Mr.  Gale  had  a  Land  Tortoife  in  his  Garden,  that  Tor 
the  five  warm  Months  ran  up  and  down  his  Walks,  and 
eat  of  a  kind  of  Plantain  which  he  fet  every  where  for 
it.  In  September  the  Creature  took  into  the  Ground,  and 
from  Year  to  Year  continued  there  for  about  feven 
Months.  While  Mr.  Colman  refided  there  it  came  up  in 
dpril,  but  miftook  its  way,  and  was  found  in  the  Church- 
Yard,  which  was  parted  from  the  Garden  by  a  Wall. 

There  were  Companies  of  Soldiers  that  Winter  billeted 
in  Ipfwicb,  and  fome  other  neighbouring  Towns  ;  and 
feveral  Robberies  were  committed  by  them.  One  Day 
he  was  himfelf  dogged  out  of  Town  by  a  Soldier,  and 
had  draggled  into  a  little  Thicket  of  fmall  Trees orBrufh, 

by  the  Side  of  a  Field  adjoyning  to  the  Lord — 

Park,  there  he  happily  turned  to  gaze  about,  and  look 
down  upon  the  Town  :  When  the  Soldier  within  a  few 
Rods  of  him  ftopt  fhort  and  looked  round  him  :  At  the 
fame  Inftant  he  jumpt  over  the  Fence,  and  hisLordfhip's 
Coach  appearing  in  Sight,  he  made  towards  it  as  faft  as 
he  could,  and  returned  into  Town. 

At  Bury  he  attended  the  Seflions,  my  Lord  chief 
Juftice  Holt  being  the  Judge.  —  He  was  aftonifhed  at 
the  Powers  and  Sagacity  of  that  great  Man  and'the  DH- 
patch  he  made  of  Bufinefs  as  well  as  his  Integrity  and 
Juftice.  Several  Wretches  received  Sentence  of  Death 
(  at  that  Time  )  for  Robberies  committed  by  them  j  the 
greateft  Rogue  of  the  Gang  commonly  hanged  the  reft. 

But  O  the  Shreiks  at  the  Bar  when  the  Sentence  was 
pronounced  upon  them,  "  Mercy,  my  Lord,  Mercy  ! 
Tranfportation,  my  Lord,  Tranfportatidn  !  A  mod  af 
fecting  Reprefentation  truly  (  as  he  has  obferved  in  his 
Record )  of  the  Agonies  of  the  Condemned  at  the  great 
Day. 

My  Lord  had  the  following  fine  and  awful  Pafiage  in 
his  Speech  before  he  gave  Sentence.  "  There  are  fome. 
indeed  that  are  innocent  and  virtuous,  who  have  been  un- 
juftly  put  to  Death  ;  and  fome  have  been  hurled  down 

to 


$f  Dr.    BENJAMIN    COL  MAN.  31 

toDeftru£tion  for  their  Piety  and  worthy  Deeds  :  Virtue 
was  grey  Hairs  to  them,  and  an  nnfpotted  Life  was  length 
of  Days.  —  But  fuch  Wretches  as  thefe  (  faid  he  )  we  are 
forced  to  cut  off  as  we  do  Wolves  and  Bearts  of  Prey,&c. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Colman's  return  to  London  Mr.  Chrif- 
topher  'Taylor ',  Minifter  of  Bath  was  chofen  by  a  Church  in 
the  City  to  be  their  Paftor.  And  now  the  Rev.  Prefby - 
terian  Minifters  did  him  a  fecond  Honour  altogether 
without  his  feeking  it,  or  knowing  of  it.  They  named 
him  to  fucceed  in  Mr.  Taylor's  Place  at  Bath,  and  told 
him  becaufe  it  was  the  Refort  of  the  Gentry  of  England, 
both  the  religious  and  profane.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Showers 
and  Mr.  Calamy  appeared  mod  to  him  in  the  Motion. 
They  faid,  it  was  the  befl  Stirrup  in  England,  whereby  to 
mount  the  bed  Pulpits  that  might  be  vacant.  They 
promifed  him,  that  if  he  would  ferve  the  diflenting  In- 
tereft  there  a  few  Years,  they  would  get  him  fetled  at 
London. 

He  readily  came  into  this  Motion,  for  he  wanted  to 
fee  the  Waters  which  he  had  heard  fo  much  of,  and  he 
found  more  than  he  had  heard.  He  defired  alfo  to  fee 
the  Weft  Country  and  BriftoL 

He  had  the  Pleafure  to  ride  down  in  Company  with  the 
Rev.  and  learned  Mr.  Nathaniel  Taylor,  and  Mr.  Timothy 
Rogers,  with  whom  he  vifited  feveral  worthy  Gentlemen 
on  the  Road ;  Mr.  Taylor  of  Newbury,  Mr.  Doolittle 
of  Reading^  and  others.  —  At  Bath  he  fpent  five  Weeks 
with  them  in  the  fame  Houfe,  and  Mr.  Taylor  feeing  him 
fad  at  their  going  away,  gave  him  his  Hand  and  cheesed 
him  with  thefe  Words,  "  Well,  Co/man,  you  are  an  in 
genious  Youth,  and  we  will  have  you  with  us  at  London 
within  a  few  Years. 

With  them  he  vifited  Briftol,  and  became  acquainted 
with  the  venerable  Mr.  Weekes^  Mr.  Noble,  Mr.  Kentijh^ 
Mr.  Pope  &c. 

Mr.  Rogers  had  once  been  in  the  Depth  of  religious 
Melancholy,  and  he  wrote  a  valuable  Book  on  the  Subject 
upon  his  Recovery.  But  now  he  was  in  the  other  Ex- 

tream, 


32  fbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

tream,  the  merrieft  Man  in  the  World.  Mr.  Colman  was 
called  by  him  all  the  dull  Things  that  Wit  could  invent, 
but  from  an  Heart  full  of  Love.  He  was  now  Affiftant 
to  Mr.  Showers  in  London. 

One  Day  Mr.  Colman  fpake  his  Mind  to  him  freely 
about  their  private  Baptifms.  He  fuddenly  replied,  why 
our  People  give  ma  but  eighty  Pounds  a  Year,  and  my 
Baptifms  are  worth  fifty  Guineas  to  me.  He  faw  by  this 
the  wretchedSnare  and  Temptation  that  had  banimed  the 
Ordinance  of  Baptifm  out  of  their  publick  Worfhip.— 

Indeed  he  faw  but  one  publick  Baptifm  all  the  while 
he  was  in  England.  It  was  at  Mr.  How's  Church  ;  the 
People  got  up  over  one  another  Shoulders  to  gaze.  Mr. 
How  looked  round  about  with  an  awful  Paufe  that  drew 
the  Attention  and  Eye  of  all  prefent  upon  him,  and  then 
began,  "  I  am  forry  it  is  fuch  a  Rarity  !  That  there 
ihould  be  fuch  a  gazing  at  it !  &c. 

In  the  City  of  Brlftol^  the  Gentlemen  of  Mr.  Weekes's 
Congregation  went  in  a  Body  to  the  Paftors,  and  prayed 
they  might  have  the  Baptifms  in  publick,*  promifing  to 
make  the  fame  Prefents  as  they  did  in  private.  By  this 
Means  they  immediately  prevailed. 

While  Mr.Colman  fojourned  at&z/£,a  Gentleman  came 
thither  to  drink  the  Waters,  who  was  tormented  in  a  dread 
ful  Degree  with  the  Gout.  The  Wretch  lay  fwearing  and 
curfing,  inftead  of  repenting  and  praying  •,  wondering 
what  he  had  done  that  God  fhould  lay  fuch  Pains  on  him 
more  than  on  others.  At  Jaft  fending  his  Man  down  to 
\va/m  him  fome  Broth,  he  fell  on  his  Sword  and  died. 
And  went  without  doubt,  to  blafpheme  on  for  ever  ; 
Curfe  the  Author  of  his  Plagues,  and  gnaw  his  Tongue 
for  Pain.  They  brought  him  in  Mad  as  indeed  all  Self- 
Murderers  are  :  But  fuch  Juries  are  worfe  than  Mad, 
and  deferve  to  be  buried  under  the  Gallows. 

Mr.  Colman  fpent  two  Years  at  Bath,  and  found  good 
Acceptance  with  the  People  and  with  the  Strangers  there,1 
Before  he  had  lived  among  them  two  Months  he  became 
acquainted  with  more  Families  of  Fafhion  in  London  than 
be  had  done  by  living  there  two  Years.  The 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL M A N^  33 

The  People  at  Bath  had  been  ufed  to  a  different  Sort 
of  Preaching  from  his,  and  did  riot  feem  to  relifh  his  Way 
at  firft.  So  he  propofed  to  them  to  think  of  fome  other, 
more  agreable  to  their  Tafte,  and  that  might  better  pleafc 
and  edify  them.  They  blufhed,  and  prayed  him  to  con 
tinue  his  Services  among  them  :  And  within  a  Quarter 
of  a  Year  were  fatisfied  and  delighted  with  them. 

Among  the  Phyficians  that  ply  at  Batb  the  Summer 
Seafon  was  Dr.  Baynard. —  He  was  a  Gentleman  of  great 
Wit,  and  gave  himfelf  a  great  Licence  in  it,  more  efpe- 
cially  againft  the  Conformifl  Clergy.  —  Mr.  Fleetwood 
Sbepard,  and  Mr.  Pocock  (Mayor  of  the  City  that  Year) 
were  Gentlemen  of  the  fame  Character  for  Wit  and 
Mirth.  No  wonder  if  they  were  very  great  and  intimate 
Friends.  —  Mr.  Pocock  fell  ill  of  a  Fever,  and  Mr.  Bay- 
ward  was  his  Doctor. 

One  Morning  after  drinking  the  Waters  the  Doctor 
went  to  fee  his  Patient,  and  Sbepard  with  him.  Baynard 
found  him  dying  by  his  Pulfe,  and  looked  fad  upon  it  ; 
but  Sbepard,  ignorant  of  his  Danger,  faid  to  him  with 
wonted  Pleafancy  and  Droll,  —  "  You  lie  here  Pocock 
while  we  want  you  daily  at  the  Bear  :  There  is  the  beft 
Red  come  toTown  you  ever  tailed." — Pocock  cad  a  dying 
Look  on  him  and  faid,  "  I  lhall  never  be  with  you  a- 
gain. — No,  anfwered  Sbepard  loofly,  "Why  then  come 
and  fee  us,  Pocock^  for  we  always  loved  you  dearly. 

Upon  this  he  turned  on  his  Heel,  and  went  down, and 
faynard  after  him.  They  went  to  the  Coffee- Houfc 
which  was  but  three  Doors  off  from  Mr.  Pocock's,  and 
at  Eleven  it  was  Time  to  go  Home  and  drefs.  But  as 
Sbepard  flepped  out  of  the  Door,  he  fell  a  trembling  and 
cried  out,  "  Hold  me  Baynard,  hold  me"  !  The  Doctor 
caught  him  in  his  Arms,  and  all  the  Gentlemen  (who 
were  many)  in  the  Room  ran  to  the  Door,  where  they 
faw  Mr.  Sbepard  frighted  and  flaring,  and  heard  him  fay 
ing,  "  Don't  you  fee  Pocock  there  ?  in  the  Middle  of 
the  Street !  Why  there  he  goes,— two  Men  lead  him  a- 

F  long ! 


34  We  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Jong  !  and  now  he  is  got  up  to  the  Gate," —  (which  was 
but  the  Length  of  a  Street  from  the  Coffee- Houfe.) 

When  Mr.  Colmatf*  Landlord,  who  was  Serjeant  of 
the  Bath  (Mr.  Shelfton)  told  him  this  wonderful  Story,  as. 
a  certain  Matter  of  Fact,  that  happened  but  two  Years 
before,  he  refolved  to  enquire  of  Dr.  Baynard  about  it, 
for  he  was  well  acquainted  with  the  Doctor,  and  he  feme- 
times  came  to  hear  him  preach. 

The  Doctor  aflured  him  of  the  Truth  of  the  whole 
Account,  and  when  he  afked  him  what  Effect  it  had  on 
Mr.  Shepard,  he  faid,  He. was  fick  upon  it  for  two  Days, 
but  when  he  got  out  again  he  was  as  merry  and  wild  as 
ever.  He  faw  nothing  himfelf  (he  faid)  but  heard  what 
Sbepard  faid  to  their  dying  Friend,  and  he  had  no  Doubt 
but  that  Shtpard  faw  an  Appearance  of  him. — They  ran 
to  the  Mayor's  Houfe,  and  were  told>  he  was  juft  now 
dead. 

Well,  Doftor,  faid  Mr.  Colman  upon  it,  Too  well  are 
our  Saviour's  Words  verified,  "  Neither  will  they  be  per- 
fwaded  though  one  come  from  the  Dead"  No  Sir,  replied 
the  Doctor,  "  Thefe  Things  were  never  meant  to  con 
vert  us  :  It  is  the  good  Word  which  you  preach  to  us, 
snuft  do  that,,  if  it  ever  be  done." 

This  Story  is  fo  remarkable  and  well  attefied,  as  few 
(if  anyv  in  aJl  its  Circumftances  )  are  like  unto  it. 

And  doubtlefs  the  good  Providence  of  God  orders 
fuch  Things  every  now  and  then,  as  fuperadded  Tefti- 
rnonies  to  revealed  Religion,  in  the  great  Doctrine  of  the 
Soul's  Immortality,  a  feparate  State,  and  the  Judgment 
to  come. —  This  was  a  Teftimony  to  all  England,  and 
more  efpecially  to  the  Nobility  and  Gentry  through  the 
Kingdom,  who  all  heard  of  it,  and  little  heeded  it. — No 
Doubt  but  the  Fame  of  it  went  immediately  to  the 
King's  Court.f 

If  Mr.   Glawvill)  Arch  Deacon  of  Bath  in  his  Day, 


f  This  Sir  FJtttivood  SbeparJ  was   afterward  Gentleman  -Uiher  of 
tke  &lafk  RtJ,  and  well  known  by  a  Poem  in  Prior  to  him. 


of  'Dr.  BE  N  j  A  M  IN  COL  M  AN^  3  7 

fiad  been  living  he  would  have  triumph'd  in  this  evident 
Teftimony  to  an  invifible  World  at  his  own  Door  :  For 
there  is  fcarce  the  like  open  inconteitible  Account  in  his 
Sadducijmus  Triumphatits.  But  none  have  been  fo  good 
and  juft  to  the  Publick  as  to  publiili  this  to  the  World. 

While  Mr.  C0/#;0;rwasat  &?/£  he  preached  for  Mr. 
Cummins  of  Shef  ton-Mallet.  He  was  a  worthy  Ml- 
nifter  and  a  ftrong,  ft'out  Man.  Within  a  few  Years  after 
he  met  with  a  Robber  on  the  High-Way  that  bid'him 
deliver,  with  his  Piftol  in  his  Hand.  Mr.  Cummins  told 
him  he  muft  give  him  Leave  to  difmount,  which  he  did, 
the  Robber  being  on  his  lef$  Hand.  In  an  Inftant'Mr. 
Cummins  took  the  Wretch  by  the  Foot,  and  canted  him 
over  his  Horfe,  and  as  he  came  to  the  Ground  his  heavy 
and  ilrong  Foot  was  upon  him,  and  lighting  upon  his 
Bread,  flruck  the  Breath  out  of  his  Body.  Mr.  Cummins 
was  amazed  to  find  him  dead,  and  ready  to  repent  of 
what  he  had  done.  Inilead  of  praifing  him  for  his  Cou 
rage,  or  excufing  him  from  the  Suddennefs  with  which  a 
Man  acls  at  fuch  a  Time,  fo  me  were  *eady  to  cenfufe 
him  as  a  cruel  Man,  and  that  he  had  not  the  Pity  whidh 
becomes  a  Minifler  fora  poor  Soul,  Mr.  Cummins  was 
.  forced  to  pafs  his  Trial...)  .;!>/;  .1?'.-"  &  TJI! 

One  of  the  fipfl  Pleafures  Mr.  Colman  had  at  Bath  was 


his  coming  into  an  Acquaintance  with'  the 
mela,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Singer  of  dgford  near  Firome.  She 
had  a  Volume  of  Poems  then  in  Print,  being  about  her 
twenty-fourth  Year.  Mr.  Rogers  had  made  her  an  high 
Complement,  in  a  Book  he  dedicated  to  thd  virtuous 
and  good-humoured  Ladies.  Mr.  Singer  invited  him  to 
come  and  fee  his  Daughter,  that  me  might  thank  him. 
Mr.  Colman  invited  himfelf  to  go  with  him,  having  read 
her  Poems.  They  found  her  comely  in  Body,  lowly  in 
Drefs,  with  a  'Soul  :  fair  and  bright  as  an  Angel. 
.:  t  Mr.  Singer  led  them  out  to  fee  Ms  Daughter's  Walk 
or  Lodge  near  his  Houfe,  where  me  ufed  to  meditate  and 
compole.  It  was  a  -  retired  and  fhady  Path  ;  a  Rivufet 
on  one  Side,  and  tall  fpreading  Trees  on  the  other.  Mr, 

Rogers 


36  n*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Rogers  required  Mr.  Colman  to  make  a  Compliment  or* 
the  Place  :  Her  Father  join'd  his  Reqneft  ;  when  they 
returned  he  fent  her  a  Poem  which  began  thus, 

So   Paradife  was  brightned,  fo  'twas  bkft, 
When  Innocence  and  Beauty  it  pojfeft. 
Such  was  it's  more  retired  Path  and  Scat, 
for  Eve  and  mujing  Angels  a  Retreat. 
Sucb  Eden'j  Streams,  and  Banks,  and  lowering  Groves-  \ 
Such  Eve  her  felf,  and  fuch  her  Mufe  and  Loves, 
Only  there  wants  an  Adam  on  the  Green, 
Or  elfe  all  Paradife  might  here  be  feen. 

Mr.  Singer  was  highly  pleas'd  with  Mr.  Colman,  and 
prayed  him  to  enter  intoaFriendihipandCorrefpondence 
with  his  Daughter,  and  that  he  would  often  come  and  fee 
them.  :  02 

Mr.  Singer  called  himfelf  Argos,  having  an  hundred 
Eyes  upon  his  Daughter,  but  he  feemed  to  flint  them  all 
^Ifi.Mr.  Colmarfs  favour.  Both  Father  and  Daughter 
treated  him  with  utmoft  Freedom  and  Affection.  Before 
Company  efpecially,  Mrs.  Singer  behaved  as  though  he 
had  been  her  Brother.  Mr.  Colman  loved  her  without 
the  lead  Intention  of  ever  faying  fo  to  her.  She  faw  it, 
and  it,  pleafed  her  greatly.  They  wrote  to  one  another 
often  :  Mr.  Colman  made  Jong  Vifits,  fornetimes  for  Days 
together :  And  they  were  always  unwilling  to  part. 

Once  he  vifited  her  at  my  Lady  Weymout&s,  who  much 
efteemed  and  honoured  her.  So  did  Bifhop  Kenn 
who  then  refided  at  that  noble  Houfe.  Mr.  Roberts  of 
London  was  then  with  Mr.  Colman.  They  carried  a  Note 
from  her  Father  without  which  they  could  not  have  feen 
her.  She  let  the  Family  fee  how  much  me  regarded 
h'm.  The  Bifhop  gave  him  his  Bleffing.  And  at.a 
Mile  from  the  Seat  they  met  Mr.  Phillips  of  Frothe,  a 
very  aged  gracious  Minifler,  and  he  bleit  Mr.  Roberts. 
Upon  which  he  turned  and  faid  to  Mr.  Colman,  Now, 
Sir,  I  am  even  with  you. 

Mr. 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  37 

*  Mr.  Singer  told  Mr.  Colman  that  Philomela?*  Mother 
was  every  way  her  Superiour,  in  Knowledge,  Wifdom  and 
Grace.  And  that  he  had  buried  a  younger  Daughter, 
her  equal  in  Knowledge,  and  Superior  in  Grace.  Philo 
mela  her  felf  told  him  it  was  very  true.  The  Difcourfe 
of  that  Afternoon  was  upon  this  dead  charming  Sifter, 
the  Father  being  gone  out  to  his  Work.  She  told  him 
the  following  moft  entertaining  Story. 

"  My  Sifter,  faid  fhe,  was  a  Year  or  two  younger 
than  I,  and  her  Affection  as  well  as  Wit  was  quicker.  I 
feemed  however  to  my  felf  to  think  more  thoroughly. 
She  defired  ever  to  be  with  me,  and  I  wanted  to  be 
more  by  my  felf.  We  often  retired  by  Confent,  each 
to  her  Chamber,  to  compofe  and  then  to  compare 
what  we  wrote.  She  always  exceeded  me  in  the  Num 
ber  of  Lines,  but  mine  I  think  were  more  correct. 
She  exceeded  me  much  in  the  Fondnefs  of  Love,  but 
never  in  the  Truth  and  Strength  of  it.  She  was  jea 
lous  of  me  that  my  Love  was  not  equal  to  her's,  and 
invented  an  hundred  Ways  to  try  me  ;  many  of  which 
I  thought- childifh  and  weak,  and  therefore  fometimes 
rather  reproved  then  complyed  with.  This  gave  her 
Grief,  and  I  fhould  find  her  in  Tears,  which  I  could  not 
put  a  flop  to  but  by  the  tendered  Words  and  Embraces. 

"  We  lived  Years  together  as  happy  as  Children  could 
be  in  one  another  ;  We  lived  religioufly  together  ;  took 
Care  of  one  another's  Souls,  and  had  ourconftant  Hours 
for  Retirement  and  Devotion.  We  were  daily  fpeak- 
ing  to  one  another  of  the  Things  of  God,  his  Being, 
Perfections,  Works  ;  the  Wonders  of  Creation  and  Pro 
vidence,  the  Myfteries  of  Redemption  and  Grace.— — • 
My  Father  in  his  Widowhood  took  great  Delight  in 
us,  cherifhed  our  Love  to  God  and  one  another,  but 
like  good  Jacob  was  fondeft  of  the  youngeft,  admiring 
all  that  fhe  faid  or  did.  And  in  her  Death  he  was  to 
be  tried. 

"  But  it  was  I  that  was  taken  fick^  to  a  very  dan 
gerous  Degree.  And  when  the  Phyficians  were  giving 

me 


fbe  LIFE  and   CHARACTER 

me  over,  my  dear  Sifter  came  to  me  drowned  in  Tears  ; 
and  earneftly  killing  me,  befought  me  to  tell  her  whether 
I  was  (through  Grace)  prepared  to  die  ?  Whether  my 
Intereft  in  Chrifl  and  Title  to  Heaven  were  comfortable 
and  clear  to  me  ?  For  .flie  was  afraid  I  would  die  -,  and 
flie  could  not  part  with  me  only  to  go  to  Chrift,  which 
was  far  fthe  better. 

"  I  looked  earneftly  upon  her  and  faid,  "  Why  Sifter, 
do  you  think  me  dangerous  ?  I  muft  confefs  to  you  my 
Diftrefs  would  be  great,  on  the  Account  of  my  Soul,  if 
I  thought  my  dying  Hour  were  now  coming  on  :  For 
I  have  not  that  full  Affurance  of  my  Intereft  in  Chrift, 
which  I  have  always  begged  of  God  I  might  have,  be- 
Fore  he  would  call  me  hence.  >  oj 
.  "  No  fooner  had  me  heard  me  fay  this,  but  me  fell 
as  in  an  Agony  on  her  Knees  by  my  Bed,  and  in  a 
manner  inexpreflible  for  Fervour  and  Humility,  fhe 
begged  of  God,  "  That  if  her  Father  muft  have  the 
Grief  of  burying  one  of  his  Children,  it  might  be  her  : 
For  through  his  free  Grace,  and  to  the  Glory  of  it,  ilie 
could  humbly  profefs  before  him  her  affured  Hope  of 
her  Intereft  in  his  everlafting  Mercy  through  Jefus 
Chrift.  Wherefore  me  could  gladly  and  joyfully  fur- 
render  her  felf  to  dye,  if  it  might  pleafe  God  to  grant 
her  Sifter  a  further  Space  wherein  to  make  her  Calling  and 
Eledlion  fure.  ^  ,'0 

"  Having  prayed  thus  in  a  Tranfport  which  was  fur- 
prifing  and  aftonifhing  to  me,  flie  faffed  me  and  left 
the  Room,  without  giving  me  Time  or  Power  to  an- 
fwer  her  a  Word.  And,  what  is  almoft  incredible  to 
relate,  from  that  Minute  I  grew  better  and  recovered,  but 
flie  took  her  Bed  and  died  within  a  few  Days.  * 

"  Conceive  if  you  can  Mr.  Colman.  how  .1  was  afto* 
niilied  at  this  Event  of  Providence,  and  over-whelm'd 
.with  Sorrow  ;  and  my  Father  with  me.  Yet  I  reco- 


*  She  was  about  twenty  Years  old,  as  the  Author  of  Mrs.  Rowis 
Life  reports,  .  I  iij,;^ 

vered 


ie/  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N."  39 

vered  Health  :  but  the  Load  of  Grief  upon  me  con 
fined  me  to  my  Chamber  for  more  than  fix  Weeks. 
My  chief  Work  was  to  confidcr  the  Mind  of  God,  in 
this  his  Mercy  to  me,  that  I  might  make  it  evident 
to  my  felf,  that  indeed  in  Love  to  my  Soul  he  delivered 
me  from  the  Pit  of  Corruption.  '  I  fet  my  felf  to  com 
fort  my  Father,  what  I  could,  and  that  was  his  Care  for 
me.  We  durft  not  be  inconfolable  under  a  Bereavement 
fo  circumftanced  :  Yet  my  mourning-  is  always  returning 
with  the  Remembrance  of  a  Love  ftronger  than  Death 
and  bright  like  the  Seraphims,  thofe  Flames  of  Love  aad 
Devotion. 

How  exalted  a  Convention  was  this  which  Mr.  Col- 
man  had  with  Mrs.  Singer.  He  told  her  upon  it  he 
was  more  In  Love  with  the  Dead  than  the  Living  :  And 
that  flic  muft  yield  her  Sifter  the  Viftory  ;  and  confefs 
her  Love  to  excell  in  Strength  as  well  as  Fervour. 

After  many  fuch  happy  Converfations  the  Day  arrived 
when  I*  was  obliged  to  pay  a  parting  Vifit,  being 
earneflJy  invited  to  New  England  wd  to  a  Settlement 
in  Eofton,  which  he  informed  the  Family  of  -  when 
Mrs.  Singer  poured  out  a  thoufand  Wifhes  for  his  Prof- 
penty  ;  his  Serviceablenefs  in  the  Church  of  Chrift  on 
fcarth,  and  his  Happinefs  with  her  in  that  above  for 
ever.  Her  Father  added  a  thoufand  Prayers  and  Blef- 
fings  to  her  s  with  Tears  and  the  moft  tender  Embraces. 
Mr  Colman  believed  God  called  him  to  return  Home  to 
his  dear  Relations  and  loved  Country  -  _  . 

His  Character  of  Mrs.  Singer  in  his  Manufcripts  fol 
lows,  -  She  was  an  heavenly  Maid  of  fublimeDe- 
flS!*  ^  »  ^7  VaS,Wdl  as  Ingen^y  and  Wit.  How 
™/°h  lcftcd,fuch  »  Stock  of  Knowledge  and  Li- 
terature,  by  reading  and  Convcrfation,  without  a  learned 
Tutor*  wanfulBtlt  her  Wifdom  and  Difcretion 


tow-England.  '      tCf  Mr'  W**5I  return  to 

- 

out/none 


r40  <TVLIFE  ^CHARACTER 

outmone  her  Knowledge.  She  had  only  her  Mother- 
Tongue,  but  had  made  all  the  Improvement  of  an  Aca 
demical  Education.  She  was  a  Poet,  a  PhiJofopher  and 
a  Divine.  And  above  all,  a  mod  devout  Worfhipper 
of  God  in  Secret  and  in  Publick.  She  hid  her  felf  in  the 
publick  Worfhip  in  an  obfcure  Place,  where  me  could 
neither  fee  others  nor  be  feen  by  them. 
^*c ;  Mufick,  Poetry  and  Painting  were  her  three  Beau 
ties  and  Delights.  She  ufed  her  Pencil  almoft  as  well 
as  her  Pen.  She  never  was  idle,  but  either  her  Needle 
or  her  Pencil  was  going  in  all  Conventions.  And 

what  me  drew  me  gave  to  the  Company. She  ufed 

to  declare  the  great  Afilftance  me  had  fometimes  found 
in  her  Devotions  by  the  Organs,  and  Anthems  well 
lung  to  them,  f  — 


:>  >    U'.:  ; 


CHAP. 


•f  The  ingenious  and  learned  Mr.  Grove,  Author  of  the  fiift  Part 
of  Mrs.  Rowe's  Life  (then  Mrs.  Singer )  takes  fome  Pains  to  inform 
the  World,  That  Part  of  the  above  Story  is  entirely  without 
Foundation  in  the  following  Words,  (and  then  makes  fome  Reflection 
on  it.)  "  There  is  a  Story  (fays  he)  which  becaufe  it  has  been  con- 
'"  fidently  reported  by  fome,  and  credited  by  a  great  many  others,  I 
'•'  fhall  for  the  Sake  of  the  Reflection  it  will  afford  me,  and  the  Op- 
f<  portunity  of  afruring  the  World,  after  inquiring  of  the  Perfons  beft 
"  able  to  inform  me,  that  it  is  entirely  without  Foundation  ;  though 
"  were  it  ever  fo  true,  it  could  not  be  made  an  Argument  againit 
«'  Mrs.  Rc<we's  early  Piety,  as  it  has  been  thought  by  fome  to  be. 

"  The  Story  is  this  ;  Mrs.  Reive,  then  Mrs.  Singer,  being  dange- 
"  roufly  ill,  and  under  vifible  Diibefs  at  the  Apprehenfion  of  her  ap- 
"  proach  ng  Change,  her  Sifter  who  obferved  it,  afked  her  tenderly, 
"  whethi  r  (he  was  not  willing  to  die  ?  And  Mrs.  Row*  frankly  con- 
*'  felling  (he  was  not,  the  other  faid,  fhe  would  retire  then,  and  pray 
"  to  God  that  (he  might  be  taken  in  her  Room  ;  being  as  willing  to 
"  leave  the  World  as  the  other  could  be  to  continue  in  it,  which  ac- 
ft  coidingly  fhe  did  ;  and  the  Confequence  was,  that  Mrs.  Rowt  re- 
'*  covered,  and  her  Sifter  fickned  and  died,  &c.  &c. 

It  is   readily  owned    this  Story  has  been  confidently   reported  by 
fome,  particularly  Mr.  Caiman   who  in  his   Life-Time  related  it   to 
many,  and  alfo  left  it  (as  it  has  been  now  given)  in  Writing  among 
' '  his  Papers,  and  moreover  it  appears  by  Letters  in  his  Study,  that   he 
•  lent  it  over  to  England,  foon  after  Mrs.  Rowi*  Death.— Yet  this   in 
genious 

jir^ 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N^  ^4 

;|^|v  CHAR     V. 

Invitations  to  return  to  New-England  — 
His  Ordination  at  London —  Arrival  at 
Bofton  and  Settlement  there —  Letters 
fent  to  him  before  his  Embarkation  and 
foon  after. 

MR.  Colman  as  I  hinted  in  the  foregoing  Chapter  re 
ceived  kind  Letters  from  a  Number  of  Gentlemen 
in  Bqfton  the  Place  of  his  Nativity,  who   had  built  an 
handfome  Houfe  there,  informing,  "  That  they  had 

chofen 

genious  Gentleman  is  pleafed  to  difpute  the  Fact.  But  on  what 
Ground  ?  Becaufe  he  had  inquired  ot  Perfons  (in  his  Apprehenfion} 
bell  able  to  inform  him  of  the  Circumftances  of  this  Matter,  and  it 
feems  they  were  ignorant  of  them,  and  hence  he  affures  the  World, 
that  it  is  entirely  without  Foundation. 

The  Gentleman  himfelf  is  faid  by  the  Editor  of  Mrs.  Rome's  Life 
to  have  had  a  long  *  Acquaintance  with  her,"  and  yet  had  never 
heard  her  mention  it  on  any  Occafion,  which  no  Doubt  ferved  to 
ilrengthen  his  Diffidence. 

But  why  mould  it  be  thought  incredible  or  even  improbable  after 
fuch  a  Number  of  Years  were  paft,  "  That  Mrs.  Rowe  from  whom 
Mr.  Colman  pofitively  afierts  he  had  it,  mould  omit  to  relate  thefe 
Circumftances  to  every  new  Acquaintance.  However,  this  Gentle 
man's  Denial  of  a  Fact  on  the  Ground  mentioned,  is  not  fufficient  ta 
invalidate  the  Teftimony  of  any  good  Man  and  true,  much  leis  the 
pofitive  Declaration  of  a  Perfon  of  Mr.  Caiman's  Character. 

I  can't  but  obferve  how  this  fame  Gentleman  in  his  eighteenth  Page 
feems  plunged,  and  at  a  Lofs  about  another  Thing,  viz.  fpeaking  of 
Mrs.  Rov:e,  The  Occafion  (fays  he)  of  her  Poetical  Name  Philo-neta, 
which  from  this  Time  me  was  known  by  to  the  World,  whether  ftie 
affumed  it  to  her  felf,  or  was  complimented  with  it  by  her  Friends 
I  have  not  been  able  to  learn. 

Now  if  after  enquiring  of  the  Perfons  bell  able  to  inform  him,  and 
by  his  long  Acquaintance  he  did  not  arrive  to  any  Certainty  about 

*  //  is  tiof  faid  boiv  long— A  few  Ttart^Ten  or  Twcfce  is  fometimes 

calhd  fit 

-«..,  _ 

G  this 


LIFE  ^CHARACTER 

chofen  him  to  be  their  Minifter,  and  urging  him  to  make 
what  Hafte  he  could  to  them.  Thefe  Letters  were  fub- 
fcribed  by  Meffirs.  Thomas  Brattle,  Benjamin  Davis,  John 
Mico,  Tbomas  Cooper,  and  John  Co/man  in  the  Name  of 
the  reft,  and  in  them  they  only  propofe  to  him  that  the 
holy  Scriptures  might  be  publickly  read  every  Sabbath  in 
the  Worlhip  of  GOD,  which  was  not  praclifed  in  other 

this  Fact  (which  by  the  Way,  was  about  the  fame  Time  of  her  Life 
with  the  other)  why  need  he  to  have  been  fo  confident  of  the  Story's 
being  entirely  without  Foundation  ? 

I  join  with  him  in  the  Reflections  he  makes  on  the  Story,  which 
was  the  other  End  of  his  mentioning  it,  viz.  They  muft  be  very  weak 
Perfons  indeed  who  make  any  Part  of  the  Story  an  Argument  againft 
Mrs.  Rowe's  early  Piety.  The  Relation  of  it  ought  not,  need  not  be 
conftrued  in  the  leaft ,  to  her  Difadvantage.  Many  excellent  Perfons 
have  all  their  Life-Time  been  in  Bondage  through  Fear  of  Death— 
We  have  known  Doubts  and  Darknefles  fometimes  arife  in  the  Minds 
f)f  Chriftians  of  the  higheft  Form  among  us  in  fuch  a  trying  Hour. 

The  Reafons  the  Gentleman  is  pleafed  to  add  upon  a  Suppofition 
of  the  Truth  of  the  Story,  are  allb  pailable  and  may  ferve  to  clear 
Mrs.  Ra-ive  from  any  Indecency  of  Expre/non. 

Upon  the  whole,  I  muft  be  allowed  to  think  that  the  Story  in  all  its 
Gircumftances  as  related  by  Dr.  Co/man  is  truly  wonderful  and  worthy 
£0  be  publifhed  to  the  World. — 

N.  B.  Since  I  wrote  thefe  Remarks  I  find  a  Letter  of  Dr.  Caiman 
to  a  Gentleman  of  Diftinction  after~He  had  read  Mr.  Gror^s  Account 
in  which  are  the  following  Words  : 

"  Her  Picture  is  exactly  true,  and  fo  is  the  Account  of  her  excel 
lent  Father,  and  he  once  told  me,  that  his  Daughter  was  in  no  wife 
to  be  compared  with  her  Mother.  What  a  glorious  humble  Family 
has  it  been  !  like  that  at  Bethany  which  JESUS  loved,  and  where  he 
was  wont  to  lodge  !  It  is  now  extinct  in  Mrs.  Rowe,  who  has  carried 
it  to  the  Height  that  human  Nature  has  arrived  to,  fince  the  Days  of 
Infpiration  ;  and  has  left  a  Blaze  on  the  Name  of  Singer,  which  (hall 

never  be  extinguifhed Exalted  and  afcended  Spirits 

neither  need  nor  value  a  Name  cut  in  Marble  over  their  Bones,  (me 
and  her  Father  lie  in  an  obfcure  Village  without  a  Stone  by  her  Or 
der  over  them)  but  indeed  fuch  a  Monument  as  Mrs.  Singer  and  her 
righteous  Friends  have  here  raifed  for  the  Inftruction,  Admiration  and 
Afpiration  of  Survivors,  is  a  Name  and  Praife  and  Glory.  Give  her 
t>f  the  fruit  of  her  Hands,  and  let  her  own  Works  praife  her  in  tie 
Gate. 

But  I  am  forry  for  the  Diffidence  and  Larnenefs  with  which  the 
Story  I  had  from  her  own  Mouth  is  here  told,  and  am  perfwaded 
there  is  an  Error  in  the  Date,  of  the  Sifter's  Life. 

Churches^ 


Cf  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N."  43 

Churches  of  New-England  at  that  Time,  and  that  they 
might  lay  afide  the  Relation  of  Experiences  which  were 
impofed  in  other  Churches,  in  Order  to  the  Admiflion  of 
Perfons  to  the  Lord's-Table. 

This  Invitation  was  very  acceptable  and  pleafmg  to 
him,  for  his  Heart  was  always  very  much  in  his  native 
Country,  and  to  the  Churches  of  Chrift  here,  and  the 
more  acceptable  it  was  by  Reafon  of  the  kind  and  en 
couraging  Letters  which  accompanied  it  from  his  excel 
lent  Friends  the  Honourable  John  Leverett,  the  Rev. 
Meffirs.  William  Brattle,  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  and  others. 
A  few  PafTages  out  of  fome  of  thefe  are  prefented  unto 
the  Reader. 

Mr.  Leverett  writes-, 

— "  I  (hall  exceedingly  rejoice  at  your  Return  to  yout 
Country.  We  want  Perfons  of  your  Charafter.  The 
Affair  offered  to  your  Confideration  is  of  the  greateft 
Moment.  I  pray  Almighty  God  to  be  your  Diredor 
in  it.  Your  Return  is  heartily  defired  by  all  that  I  have, 
heard  fpeak  of  it,  but  it  can't  be  more  agreeable  to  any 
Body  than  it  is  to,  Sir, 

Your  fincere  Friend,  -fcfc' 
Mr.  Brattle  writes, 

— "  This  waits  on  you  with  my  Defires  and  Hopes,' 
that  your  Circumftances  will  allow  you  to  entertain  and 
accept  the  Invitation. 

The  good  Refpect  the  Bofton  Minifters  have  for  you 
(as  well  as  others)  mould  methinks  encourage  your  cm> 
bracing  the  Motion  now  made  to  you. — As  for  my  own 
Part  1  mall  account  it  a  Smile  from  Heaven  upon  the 
good  Defign  of  thefe  Gentlemen,  if  you  can  fend  them 
an  Anfwer  of  Peace,  and  would  hope  that  your  fo  doing 
will  refult  to  your  mutual  Rejoicing.  —  May  God  diredt 
you  in  the  Matter. 

Your  real  Friend  and  Servant,  &cl 
Mr.  Pemberton  writes, 

— "  With  this  you  will  receive  a  kind  Invitation  to 
return  to  your  own  Country,  which  you  cannot  but  have 

a 


44  fte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

a  great  Tendernefs  for,  and  your  Affedlion  will  I  truft, 
con  drain  you  to  comply,  and  hope  it  will  not  be  to  your 
Difadvantage. — The  Gentlemen  who  follicic  your  Return 
are  moftly  known  to  you —  Men  of  Repute  and  Figure, 
from  whom  you  may  expect  generous  Treatment  ;  and 
among  them,  I  doubt  not,  but  you  may  be  peculiarly 
ferviceable  to  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift — which  is  the  higheft 
of  your  Ambition.  I  believe  your  Return  will  be  pleaf- 
ing  to  all  that  know  you,  I  am  fure  it  will  be  inexprefii- 
bly  fo  to  your  unfeigned  Friend  and  Servant,  &c. 

The  like  ilrong  Expreffions  of  Refpeft  and  Efteem 
are  to  be  read  in  the  Epiftles  of  divers  others. 

When  he  took  leave  of  his  Brethren  at  Bath,  he  told 
them  he  knew  not  how  to  do  it  better  than  by  fubfcrib- 
ing  with  them,  to  pay  off  the  Debt  of  Fifty  Pounds, 
\vhich  they  yet  owed  for  their  Meeting- Houfe  ;t  which 
he  did  and  fo  left  them. 

When  he  came  to  London.  (Auguft  i.  1699)  he  found 
rnoft  of  the.  City  Miniflers,  to  whom  he  was  beft  known 
out  of  Town,  viz.  the  Rev.  Meflirs.  H0w,  Quick,  Na 
thaniel  Taylor,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

He  waited  on  the  humble  and  heavenly  Mr.  Syheftery 
and  found  him  mounting  his  Horfe  :  He  told  him  "  he 
friould  have  been  proud  to  have  laid  his  Hand  on  him 
at  his  Ordination  ;"  which  was  a  great  deal  for  him  to 
fay  who  never  faid  any  Thing  but  from  his  Heart  in  his 
Life.^ 

His  Letters  from  Bofton  defired  him  to  afk  Ordination 
at  London.  He  knew  not  then  the  Reafon  of  his  Friends 
Defire,  but  it  was  agreeable  enough  to  his  Principles  and 
Inclinations.  Accordingly  he  immediately  applied  him- 
ielf  to  the  Prefbytery  there,  and  on  the  fourth  Day  of 
faid  Month  the  Solemnity  was  attended,  after  a  pubiick 
Lecture  at  the  Meeting-Houfe  of  the  Rev.  Mr,  Gbrifto- 
fber  Taylor. 

He  was  ordained  by  Prayer  with  the  Impofition  of  the 
Hands  of  the  Rev.  Meflirs.  Richard  Stretton^  John  Spade - 
man,  Robert  Flewming,  and  Cbriftopher  Taylor. --  Mr. 

Stretto® 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.'  ~4.£ 

*$tretton  prayed,  and  Mr.  Spademan  made  the  Exhortation  : 
And  after  the  Solemnity  was  over,  ail  the  Rev.  Minifters 
then  prefent  came  out  of  their  Seats,  and  in  a  grave  and 
hearty  Manner  gave  him  their  Right  Hands,  f 

Mr.  Stretton  was  an  aged  and  eminent  Paftor  in  the 
City,  much  reverenced  and  honoured  for  his  Learning, 
Gravity,  Piety  and  Wifdorn. 

Mr.  Spademan  was  a  very  judicious  and  learned  Man, 
and  fo  was  Mr.  Taylor  -,  Mr.  Colman  was  going  to  fuc- 
ceed  the  one  at  Rotterdam  (as  before  related)  and  was  Suc- 
ceflor  to  the  other  at  Bath. 

Mr.  Fleming  was  Paftor  of  a  Scotch  Church  in  London, 
and  had  been  or  was  afterward  chofen  Principal  of  one  of 
the  Colleges  in  Scotland. 

Mr.  Quick  was  highly  difpleafed  that  he  was  not  fent 
For  out  of  the  Country,  that  he  might  have  done  him 
fome  more  publick  Honours  at  the  Ordination. 
•  Dr.  Bates  died  a  few  Days  before  Mr.  Cclman  left 
Bath.  The  Day  before  he  took  Coach  he  received  a 
Letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jobn  Shower  informing  him 
of  the  Deceafe  of  that  glorious  Man. 

Mr.  Colman  received  ample  Teftimonials  of  his  good 
Converfation  while  in  England  from  many  other  Rev. 
Minifters,  viz.  the  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Williams,  John  Quick, 
Matthew  Sylvefter,  John  Shower ,  'Timothy  Rogers,  Edmund 
Calamy,  Thomas  Cotton,  Ifaac  Mauditt,  &c.  &c. 

Mr.  Parkhurft  and  Wife  who  had  been  fo  good  as  to 
vrfit  him  at  Bath,  did  moft  heartily  open  their  Doors  to 
him  again  when  he  arrived  at  London. 

Mr.  Samuel  Holden  the  Son  and  only  Child  of  Madam 
Parkhurft  was  then  at  Riga,  fo  that  he  never  had  the 
Pleafure  of  feeing  his  Face,  but  his  Mother  fpake  fo  much 
to  him  of  Mr.  Colman  as  gave  him  a  lafting  Intereft  in 

*|*  With  us  in  New- England  one  does  it  in  the  Name  not  of  thtjr 
Brethren  in  the  Miniftry  only,  but  of  thofe  particular  Churches  alfo, 
whom  they  reprefent,  making  a  Speech  on  theOccalion. —  Our  Ufage 
is  at  large  related  in  Dr.  Cotton  Mather^  Ratio  Difcifittt*,.  Page 

2 ',.33,  &c. 

his 


STi^UFE  and  CHARACTER 

his  good  Opinion  and  generous  Friendfhip,  to  the  great 
Benefit  of  New  England,  as  will  be  feen  before  our  Nar 
rative  is  finifhed. 

His  dear  Brother  Mr.  John  Colman  of  Bofton,  Mer 
chant  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  the  Proprietors  of 
the  new  built  Church  who  invited  his  Return  ;  and 
kindly  fent  an  Order  upon  Sir  James  Eaton  for  what  Mo 
neys  he  wanted.  Mr.  Colman  took  up  Twenty  Pounds 
Sterl.  and  laid  it  out  in  Books.  But  when  he  came  Home 
and  the  Gentlemen  prefented  him  with  fifty  Pounds  on 
his  Arrival,  his  Brother  would  not  be  repaid  a  Farthing, 
but  boarded  \\imgratis,  until  he  married.  This  he  makes 
a  grateful  Record  of,  that  his  Pofterity  may  know  his 
Obligations  to  his  Brother. 

About  the  2oth  of  Auguft  1699,  he  imbarked  at 
Gravefend,  and  by  the  Favour  of  Heaven,  after  a  Fort 
nights  Delay  in  the  Downes,  and  a  long  eight  Weeks  fick 
Voyage,  he  arrived  at.Bq/lon  the  firft  Day  of  November •, 
where  he  was  received  by  his  Relations,  Acquaintance, 
and  the  Brethren  who  fent  for  him,  with  a  great  deal  of 
Love  and  Joy  unfeigned,  after  an  Abfence  of  four  Years 
and  three  Months. 

The  next  Day   the  Undertakers  prefented  him   with 

Fifty  Pounds. Soon  after  they  kept  a  Day  of  Thankf- 

giving  in  private  to  Almighty  God,  for  his  fafe  Ar 
rival  and  the  many  Smiles  of  his  gracious  Providence 
on  their  Undertaking  unto  that  Day.  And  he  preached 
to  them  from  i  Chron.  xxix.  13,  14  Verfes.  Now  there* 
fore,  our  God  we  thank  thee,  and  praife  thy  glorious 
Name.  But  who  am  I  and  what  is  my  People,  that  we 
Jhould  be  able  to  offer  fo  willingly  after  this  Sort  ?  For  all 
things  come  of  thee,  and  of  thine  own  have  we  given 
thee. 

On  Tuefday  December  the  twelfth,  At  a  private 
Meeting  after  folemn  calling  upon  God,  the  Brethren 
declared  their  Confent  and  Agreement  to  walk  in  all  the 
Ordinances  qf  our.  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 

T, 
Ine 


Of  Dr.    BENJAMIN    COL  MAN.'  47 

The  twenty-Fourth  being  Lord's-Day  they  opened 
their  New-built  Houfe  for  publick  Worfhip  and. Mr. 
Colman  preached  to  them  from  2  Chron.  vith  Chapter  1 8 
Verfe.  But  will  God  in  very  Deed  dwell  with  Men  upon 
Earth  ?  Behold,  Heaven,  and  the  Heaven  of  Heavens  can 
not  contain  thee  ;  bow  much  lefs  this  Houfe  which  I  have 
Built  ?  * 

As  he  defignedly  omits  the  Mention  of  the  Differences 
and  Troubles  they  had  with  any  Neighbours  (Minifters 
and  others)  about  their  Proceedings,  and  only  records 
in  the  Church  Book  an  Acknowlegment  of  their  great 
Obligations  to  the  Honourable  William  Stoughton  Efq; 
Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  Province,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
William  Brattle  of  Cambridge,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clark  of 
Chelmsford  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Danforth  of  Dor- 
chefter  for  their  good  and  kind  Endeavours  for  their  peace 
able  Settlement,  it  would  be  neither  modeft  nor  juft  in 
me  to  publifh  the  Hiftory  of  them 

Wednefday  the  gift  of  January,  was  feparated  by  the 
Undertakers  forpublickly  imploring  the  Prefence  of  God 
with  them,  his  Pardon  and  Bleffing  and  accordingly  fo- 

Jemnifed. The  Rev.  Mr.    James  Allen   began   the 

Morning  Exercife  with  Prayer,  and  Mr.  Colman  preached. 
In  the  Afternoon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Willard  began,  Dr.  In- 
creafe  Mather  preached  and  Mr.  Cotton  Mather  con 
cluded. 

Mr.  Colman  received  Letters  from  divers  worthy  Mi 
nifters  and  others  before  he  imbarked,  and  foon  after 
his  Arrival,  in  all  which  are  found  Expreflions  of  their 
high  Efteem  and  Honour  for  him,  and  of  their  great 

Unwillingnefs  to   part  with   him. 1  mall  offer  but 

a  few  of  the  many,  that    prefent  themfelves. 

The  Rev.  and  aged  Mr.  John  Quick  who  conftantly 
wrote  to  him  to  his  Death  fays,  '  No  one  in  England 
loves  you  more  or  wifhes  you  better.' — 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jeremiah  White  writes,  "  If  I  had  ne 
ver  fo  much  Time,  I  could  not  by  Words  tell  you  how 

*  The  jnoft  pertinent  and  well  chofen  Subjeft. 

much 


48  Me  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

much  you  are  deemed  and  loved  by  me.  GOD 
has  referred  your  Manna  for  more  fkilful  and  judicious 
Palates  than  thofe  at  Bath. 

The  Rev.  Henry  Chandler  writes,  *  We  look  upon 
your  hafty  Departure  as  a  double  Affliction.  May  you 
be  (what  you  are  very  like  to  be)  a  Bleffing  and  Honour 
in  Bofton. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Mather  writes,  "  May  your  Encou 
ragement  be  great  and  your  Succefs  large.  I  doubt  not 
yon  have  prepared  your  felf  with  a  Sword  as  well  as  a 
Buckler,  with  a  Spear  as  well  as  an  Head- Piece,  and  are 
able  to  make  your  Way  through  all  Difficulties. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Jofeph  Standen  writes,  And  muft  we 
lofe  you  :  With  what  Violence  and  Regret  I  let  you  go. 
— I  fhould  be  glad  a  thoufand  Times  could  England  have 
afforded  you  fo  happy  a  Station. — I  wifli  fome  kind  Pro 
vidence  would  bring  you  here  again. — Ah  could  I  once 
fee  you  before  I  die,  but  'tis  an  Happinefs  too  great  to 
hope  for  in  this  World.  O  my  God  let  me  have  it  in 
the  next. 

I  fhall  add  no  more  to  this  Chapter,  but  a  few  fur- 
prifing  PafTages  of  a  Letter  from  the  venerable  Mr. 
Singer,  the  happy  Father  of  Philomela,  and  a  ihort  Script 
or  two  of  Her's. 

Mr.  Walter  Singer's  Letter. 

June  15.  1709," 

"  O  why  has  Providence  denied  me  fo  great  a  Bleff 
ing  as  the  Enjoyment  of  thy  dear  Relation  and  Society ! 
This  often  makes  me,  with  a  melancholly  Sigh,  wifli 
dgferd  at  Bofton,  or  Bofton  here —  But  infinite  Wifdom 
and  Goodnefs  cannot  err, — or  the  Thought  would  make 
too  deep  an  Impreffion. 

Methinks  there  is  one  Place  vacant  in  my  Affections, 
which  No-body  can  fill  befides  you.  But  this  Bleffing 
was  too  great  for  me,  and  God  has  referved  it  for  thofe 
that  more  deferved  it. — I  cannot  but  hope  fometimes  that 
Providence  lias  yet  in  Store  fo  much  Happinefs  for  me, 
that  1  fhall  yet  fee  you,  If  not  I  have  miffed  the  great- 
eft 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  Co  L  M  A  N."  49 

eft  temporal  Good  my  Mind  was  ever  fet  on  ;  and  did 
rot  my  Age  forbid  my  Removal  hence  ;  and  your  hap 
py  Circumftances  forbid  my  Requeft,  I  fliould  not  be  ea- 
fily  perfwaded  to  forbear  tiring  you  with  Requefts,  till  I 
had  prevailed  with  you  to  return  hither  with  the  dear 
Companion  of  your  Joys. 

My  dear  Philomela  improves  daily  in  Knowledge  and 
Piety,  in  the  Love  of  God,  and  all  that  is  good  f  lives 
above  the  Fears  of  Death,  or  rather  under  the  flrong  De- 
fires  of  it.  Your  real,  paffionatc  Friend, 

Walter  Sinrer. 
Philomelas  Letters. 

Your  Senfe  and  Virtue  has  made  a  lafting  Impreffion 
on  my  Heart,  and  when  Death  has  extinguifhed  the  Flame 
of  Life,  my  Friend/hip  for  you  fhall  commence  a  more 
exalted  Ardor—  But  till  we  meet  in  the  Regions  of  1m- 
mortality  I  hope  I  mall  have  your  Prayers  ;  for  I  know 
they  will  bring  down  a  thoufand  weighty  Bleffings  on 
my  Head.--Such  prevailing  Piety  as  your's  cannot  fail 
of  Succefs  above.  Adieu  ;  'tis  but  a  little  Interval,  and 
we  fhall  converfe  in  the  Walks  of  Paradife,  and  fing  in 
the  heavenly  Bowers. 

T        S.ir*  Jub  12.   1709. 

I  received  your  laft,  and  find  I  am  dill  happy  in  your 
Elteem,   and  the   invaluable   Blefiing  of  your  Prayers  - 
Tis  a  Privilege,  I  hope,  I  fhall  never  forfeit,  nor  fail  to 
exprefs  my  higheft  Gratitude  for. 

But  I  muft  corred  my  fejf  :  For  it  is  not  poffible  for 
me  to  exprefs  my  Gratitude  ;  and  I  could  not  be  more  ac 
a  Lois  if  I  was  making  my  Acknowledgments  to  my 
Guardian  Angel^  his  Care.— Methinks  my  Sentiment? 
tor  you  have  fomething  in  them  too  nice  to  be  defcnbed 
in  the  DialecT:  of  Mortals,  and  the  Language  of  Heaven 
would  better  become  a  Friendfhip  fo  noble.  Adieu  \ 
and  may  the  Light  of  his  Countenance  whofe  Benignity 
is  better  than  Life,  conduct  you  fafe  to  everlafting  Joys. 

E.  Singer. 
H  C  HA  P. 


50          We  LIFE  and   CHARACTER 

*    :  CH  A  P.     VL 

Many  eminent  Services  done  by  him  for 
the  Churches,  Colleges  and  Country  ; 
fome  of  his  Projections  and  EfTays  to 
do  good —  Thoughts  on  Church- Go 
vernment — Honours  done  him. 

MR.  Colman  (thus  fettled)  was  animated  with  a  fin- 
cere  and   ardent  Love  to  his   Country  ;    and  laid  - 
himfelf  out  to  the  utmoft  Stretch  of  his  Power,  as  Op 
portunities  offered,  to  ferve  its  bed  InterefTs. 

His  firft  and  greateft  Care,  and  mod  arduous  Labours 
were  beftowed  on  his  own  Church  and  Congregation. — 
But  as  I  fhall  have  Occafion  hereafter  to  confider  and 
write  more  particularly  of  fome  of  his  Minifterial  Quali 
fications  and  Excellencies,  I  fhall  here  only  fay  in  general 
what  all  his  Congregation  have  been  Witnefles  of,  and 
God  more,  viz.  "That  he  approved  himfelf  a  wife,  di 
ligent,  zealous,  faithful,  tender  and  condefcending  Mini- 
Her  of  JESUS  CHRIST  •,  in  fludying,  watching,  vifiting, 
eounfelling,  earneft  Praying  and  Preaching,  exhorting, 
charging  and  comforting  them  as  a  Father  his  Children  : 
And  this  he  did  through  a  long  and  mining  Courfe,  ever* 
for  Forty-feven  Years  ;  for  fo  long  it  pleafed  a  gracious 
God  to  continue  his  precious  Life  and  Uiefulnefs  to 
them. 

About  fifteen  Years  he  miniftred  to  them  without  a 
fettled  Affiftant  or  Colleague,-)-  viz.  to  May  23.  1716* 
when  Mr.  William  Cooper  (who  with  great  Peace  and 
Union  of  Hearts  was  chofen  by  the  Congregation,  Aug. 
1 6.  1715,)  was  moft  happily  join'd  in  the  Paftoral  Care, 

•f-  His  People  afforded  him  tranfient  Help  as  he  needed  it ;  and  for 
two  Years  and  an  half,  viz.  from  the  Year  1701,  they  employed  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Elipbalet  Mams  (who  is  now  the  aged,  venerable  Paftor  of 
a  Church  in  New-London)  in  a  more  flated  Way. 

and 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N."  51 

and  continued  labouring  with  him  in  Word  and  Doflrine, 
as  a  Son  with  a  Father,  for  Twenty -feven  Years.*  It 
pleafed  God  to  remove  him  by  Death  on  December  the 
1 3th.  1743.  Of  this  excellent  Perfon  more  will  befaid 
in  another  Chapter  of  our  Narrative. 

After  Mr.  William  Cooper's  Deceafe,  viz.  on  December 
3 1  ft.  1744,  Mr.  Samuel  Cooper  fecond  Sen  of  the  Deceaf- 
-ed,  was  with  great  Unanimity  chofen  Co-Paftor  and  Col 
league;  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Congregation,  after  Dr.Colma'n 
had  made  a  moving,  pathetick  Speech  to  them,  in  which 
among  other  Things,  he  faid,  "  I  thank  God  for  the  Op- 
"  portunity  of  feeing  you  together  ;  with  an  happy 
"  Profpedt  of  Unity  and  Comfort  in  the  great  and  im- 
"  portant  Point  that  we  are  met  upon. — The  Year  of 
*c  pur  Mourning,  under  the  holy  bereaving  Hand  of 
"  God  upon  us,  is  now  finiflied. —  We  have  from  one 
66  Lord's-Day  to  another,  as  well  as  on  our  fetand  folemn 
"  Days  of  Humiliation  and  Prayer  -J-,  been  fupplicating 

the 


*  Auguft  2d,  Mr.  Colman  preached  a  Sermon  upon  the  Day  of 
Prayer  kept  by  his  Congregation  to  implore  the  Divine  Conduft  and 
Blefling  with  them  in  their  Election  of  another  into  the  Paftoral  Office 
among  them,  from  Eph.  iv.  8, 1 1  Verfes.  Wherefore  be  faith,  when  he 
a  fc ended  up  on  high,  he  led  Captivity  captive,  and  gave  Gifts  unto  Men, 
—And  he  gave  fame  ApoJIlcs  :  And  fame  Prophets  :  And  fome  Evan- 
gelijls  :  And  fome  Pajlors  and  Teachers. — Mr.  Colman  alfo  preach'd  at 
Mr.  Coopers  Ordination  from  2d  of  Tim.  iid  Chap,  ift  Ver.  Thou 
therefore  my  Son  le  Jlrong  in  the  Grace  that  is  in  Chrijl  Jefus.  Both 
thefe  Sermons  are  in  Print,  and  to  the  latter  of  them  is  annexed  Mr. 
Coopers  Confeffion  of  Faith,  and  his  Anfwers  to  feveral  important 
Queftions  propofed  to  him  upon  that  Occafion. 

f  On  May  1 5th  1744,  the  Church  and  Congregation  kept  a  Day  of 
Fajling  and  Prayer,  for  renewed  Humiliation  and  Direfiion  in  the 
Choice  of  another  Minijler,  in  God's  Time  and  Way,  in  the  Place  of 
Mr.  Cooper,  when  Dr.  Colman  preached  an  excellent  Sermon  from 
Numb,  xxvii.  15,  16.  And  Mofes  fpake  unto  the  Lord,  faying — Let  the 
Lord,  the  God  of  the  Spirits  of  all  Flejh,  fet  a  Man  over  the  Congrega 
tion. — Towards  the  Clofe  of  the  Sermon  are  found  fuch  Pafiages  as 
thefe. 

*'  God  forbid  that  I  fliould  ceafe  to  pray  toGod  for  you  ;  that  an- 
"  other  Cooper  (I  mean  one  like  the  Deceafed)  not  a  Novice,  but  one 
lf  able  and  apt  to  teach  you  ;  be  fet  over  you  in  the  Lord  ;  a  Man 

of 


15*2  -72*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

"  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  to  repair  the  Breach,  m 
"  his  own  Time  and  Way,  and  give  us  another  Paftor 
"  after  his  own  Heart,  gifted  and  fpirited  like  the  dear 
"  Deceafed  •,  and  I  hope  the  gracious  Saviour  has  fuch 
"  an  One  in  Store  for  you  and  your  Children,  your  Fa- 
4<  milies  and  Houfholds. 

"  Through  the  Patience  of  God  I  continue  with  you 
"  to  this  Day,  under  the  growing  Infirmities  of  Age  ; 
"  nevmhelefs  having  obtained  Help  of  God  I  have  not 
"  failed,  in  one  Adminiftration  or  other,  I  think,  to  mi- 
"  nifter  every  Lord's-Day  ;  and  I  thank  God,  to  your 
"  kind  Acceptance. 

"  And  if  I  may  now  live  to  fee  you  united  in  your 
"  Choice  of  another  Paftor,  as  I  once  faw  your  Prede- 
"  ceflbrs  with  not  a  few  of  your  felves  here  prefent,  I 
"•  (hall  rejoice  and  give  Thanks  with  you  all  :  Yea, 
"might  this  be  the  Day,  it  will  be  a  gladfome  one  to 

"  Shew,  Lord,  which  thon  haft  chofen  /  And  lead 
"  us  in  thy  Truth  and  teach  us  ! — in  Paths  of  Righteouf- 
*'  nefs  for  thy  Name  Sake  ;  in  the  Determinations  of 
"  this  Morning.  Amen. 

Accordingly  Mr.  Cooper  was  peaceably  and  happily 
fettled  in  his  Father's  Room  t  May  21.  1746,*  on  which 

Occafion 

"  of  Underftanding,  Prudence  and  Wijdom  ;  a  Man  of  Learning,  Parts 
"  and  Powers,  fuch  as  this  Place  fo  much  wants  and  calls  for  ;  a  Man 
"  of  Prayer  and  Power  with  God,  a  Man  of  God' (like  Mofes,  Elias 
**  or  EUJlia)  exhibiting  before  you  (in  his  Life  and  Minifiry)  much 
*'  of  the  Image  and  Spirit  of  the  holy  God  :  A  Man  haliiually  with 
"  God,  in  fecrct  and  in  fublick,  who  fhall  be  able  truly  to  fay  to  you, 
"  I  love  my  Mc.fter,  and  my  Work,  and  my  People's  Souls  !  A  Man 
"  greatly  for  God  in  his  Generation,  laying  out  himfelf  for  the  Sal- 
"  vation  of  Souls ;  and  owned  of  God  in  fuch  his  Dejires,  Aims  and 
"  Labours. 

t  Vid.  Pfalm  xlv.  16.  and  Pfalm  cii.  28  Verfe. —  Una  avutfotton 
deficit  Alter. 

*  The  Reafon  why  the  Ordination  of  Father  and  Son  was  fo  long 
deferred  after  the  Choice  made  of  them  by  the  Congregation,  was  their 
own  earneft  Motion,  pleading  their  Youth  ;  and  that  they  might  have 

more 


'of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  0  L  M  A  N?  "53 

Occafion  Dr.  Colman  preached  and  printed  an  excellent 
Sermon  on  Ifa.  vith  Chap,  and  8th  Ver.  Alfo  1  heard  the 
Voice  of  the  Lord  faying,  Whom  Jhall  I  fend  ?  And  who 
will  go  for  us?  Thenfaidl,  Here  am  I,  fend  me.  In 
which  among  other  Things,  he  uttered  this  Wifh,  "  May 
"  his  Days  be  more  than  his  Father's  were,  in  the  Work 
"  of  the  Miniftry,  and  as  well  filled  up  with  Study  and 
"  Fidelity  ;  and  crowned  even  with  more  Succefs,  from 
"  the  Fulnefs  that  is  in  Chrift"— To  which  I  doubt  not 
the  whole  Afiembly  faid  Amen. 

Dr.  Colman  faithfully  ferved  the  College  as  an  Overfeer 
to  his  Death  •,  and  as  a  Fellow  of  the  Rev.  Corporation 
for  a  great  Number  of  Years,  until  by  reafon  of  Age  and 
bodily  Infirmities  he  thought  himfelf  called  to  refign  that 
important  Office  and  Truft  :  This  he  did  with  many  De 
clarations  of  his  Readinefs  further  to  fcrve,  and  promote 
the  Profperity  and  Flourifhing  of  that  loved  and  honour 
ed  Society,  to  his  utmoft  Ability.  (} 

While  he  had  a  Place  in  the  Corporation  he  was  much 
employed  in  draughting  Letters -and  Addrejfes  about  the 
Affairs  of  the  Houfe,  fuch  efpecially  as  were  fent  Abroad 
to  Perfons  of  DiftincYion  and  Benefactors,  were  rnoftly 
done  by  him,  as  appears  by  the  Votes  of  the  honoura 
ble  and  reverend  Overfeers,  and  Corporation,  and  many 
rough  Copies  found  in  his  Study.-f' 

His  warm  and  well  governed  Zeal  for  the  juft  Rights 
and  Privileges  of  the  College  fhewed  it  felf  on  various 
Occafions  —  I  will  hint  at  one  or  two. 

When  above  twenty  Years  ago,  fome  reverend  epifco- 
pal  Gentlemen  endeavoured  to  pufh  themlelves  into  the 

more  Time  to  ftudy  and  gain  Experience. —  The  Congregation  alfo 
confented  to  another  Requeft  of  theirs,  "  That  they  might  preach 
but  once  in  a  Fortnight  'till  their  folemn  Separation. 

||  Upon  his  repeated  Motions  to  refign  I  find  a  Vote  of  the  Corpo 
ration  dated  February  5.  1727-8  earneftly  defiring  his  Continuance  in 
that  Station. 

f  Two  Addrefles  of  his  Draughting  are  found — one  to  hisMajefty 
King  GEORGE  the  Firft,  1723.  Another  to  his  Majefty  King  GEORGE 

the  Second,  1727. 

Qverfighc 


fbe  LIFE^^CHARACTER 

Overfight  and  Government  of  it,  he  ftrenuoufly  oppofed 
them,  and  wrote  a  judicious  and  nervous  Anfwer  to  the 
Memorial  prefented  by  them,  which  is  found  among  his 
Papers.* 

There  is  alfo  a  large  Bundle  of  Writings  left,  contain 
ing  Addrefies,  Letters  and  Arguments  about  the  Regu 
lation  of  the  Corporation  (a  Matter  in  Difpute  about  the 
Year  1721)  wherein  heearneftly  pleads  for  what  appeared 
to  him  the  good  of  the  Society  at  that  Time,  and  in  all 
Times  to  come. 

He  took  indefatigable  Pains  with  the  honoured  and 
worthy  Mr.  Thomas  Hollis^  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Darnel 
Neal  and  others,  concerned  in  forming  Rules  and  Orders 
relating  to  the  Settlement  of  the  Hollifian  ProfeiTor  of  Di 
vinity  (to  the  obtaining  which  great  Benefit  to  the  Col 
lege  he  had  been  by  God's  Favour  very  Inflrumental ) 
And  he  had  no  fmall  Succefs  in  finifhing  that  Matter  to 

the  Satisfaction  of  all  concerned. But  the  Hiftory  of 

his  procuring  Benefactions  wilt  be  particularly  related  in 
another  Chapter- wherefore  I  fhall  conclude  this  Sec 
tion  with  Part  of  a  Letter  draughted  by  Mr.  Colman> 
written  to  Mr.  Hollism  the  Name  of  the  Corporation,  re 
commending  one  to  him  for  his  firft  ProfefTor. 

"  There  is  but  one  thing  more,  Sir,  which  I  have  now 
to  add,  but  'tis  a  very  great  one  ;  "  The  Nomination 
of  a  Perfon  to  you  to  be  your  firft  Profefibr.  There  is 
lately  returned  to,  and  is  now  refiding  in  the  College,  a 
very  accomplimed  Perfon  for  the  Office  in  our  joint  Opi 
nion  and  Judgment  ;  Mr.  Edward  Wigglefworth^  who  in 
the  Year  1710,  patted  his  firft  Degree  with  us,  and  has 
ever  fince  diligently  applied  himfelf  to  the  learned  Stu 
dies,  and  to  the  Study  of  Divinity  more  efpecially  :  He 
is  a  Perfon  of  known  and  exemplary  Virtue,  Piety,  Li 
terature,  Modefty,  Meeknefs,  and  other  Chriftian  Orna- 

*  In  a  Letter  to  a  Friend  1747  he  writes,  "  The  rnoft  remote  Step 
to  fap  and  undermine  our  College,  I  would  carefully  obferve,  and 
inftantly  and  openly  oppofe,  and  have  made  it  the  Bufmefs  of  my  Life 
to  do  fo  with  Caution  and  Courage.  ^ 

•j  ments : 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N."  55 

His  publick  Exerciies  in  the  Pulpit  difcovers  a 
folid  Judgment,  a  clean  Stile,  a  clear  Method,  a  bright 
and  ftrong  Thought,  and  a  Facility  or  Aptnefs  to  teach  : 
And  it  now  appears  to  us,  as  if  Providence  may  have  re- 
ferved  him  for  fuch  a  Service  as  this  now  before  us  ^ 
which  we  apprehend  may  fute  him  in  all  Refpecls  •,  ex 
cepting  his  low  Opinion  of  himfelf  :  Yet  neither  is  he 
wanting  in  Gravity,  Wifdom,  and  a  Spirit  of  Govern 
ment  and  Authority,  which  may  benecefTary  to  command 
the  Reverence  of  others  to  him  in  any  Office  he  may  be 
called  to. 

We  do  therefore  heartily  and  earneftly  recommend 
him  to  your  Favour,  to  be  nominated  by  you  your  firft 
ProfefTor  ;  and  the  fooner  you  pleafe  to  name  him  the 
better,  that  he  may  be  ready  to  enter  on  the  Work  as 
foon  as  we  can  be  ready  to  inftall  him  ;  or  that  being  ap 
prized  of  his  Nomination  he  may  be  preparing  himfelf 
for  his  Entrance  thereon.  B.  COLMAN." 

After  the  Deceafe  of  the  Rev.  and  Hon.  John  Lever  ett, 
PreJident^vvL.  on  November  18.  1724.  The  Rev.  Corpo 
ration  met  and  chofe  Mr.  Colman  Succeflbr  *  to  thaLgreat 
and  excellent  Man.—* — And  on  November  24th  follow 
ing,  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  the  Overfeers  of  the  College 
unanimoufly  approved  of,  and  confirmed  the  faid  Elec 
tion  •,  and  on  the  3Oth  by  their  Committee  invited  him 
to  accept  of  the  Office  :  But  the  Great  and  General  Court 
of  the  Province  not  willing  (at  that  Time)  to  fettle  an  Ho 
nourable  Stipend  orSalary,  until  his  Inclination  to  accept, 
and  his  Church's  to  part  with  him  were  known,  he  ex- 
cufed  himfelf  from  accepting  the  Honour  and  Charge, 
though  with  repeated  and  earned  Solicitations  and  Argu 
ments  he  was  urged  to  it here  and  from  Abroad.  . 

The  Anfwers  he  returned   were  in  thefe  Words • 

As  I  find  in  a  Paper  entitled,  "  A  Minute  or  Record  of 
that  troublefome  Affair,  my  Election  to  the  Prefidency 
over  Harvard- College." 

*  N.  B.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Jofepb  ScwattofBo&on,  (now  Dr.Spwa/J) 
was  firft  chofen  and  excufed  himfelf.^—  Augujl  the  i  ith.  1724, 

To 


56  tte  L I F  E  and  C  H  A  R  A  C  T  E  R 

"  To  the  Hon.  Samuel  Sewall  Efq-,  and  the  other  Hon? 
and  Rev.  Gentlemen  the  Committee   of  the  Hon.  and 
Rev.  the  Overfeers  of  Harvard-College. 
Gentlemen, 

When  you  did  me  the  Honour  to  inform  me  in  the 
Name  of  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  the  Overfeers  of  Harvard- 
College,  of  their  approving  the  Choice,  made  of  me  by 
the  Rev.  Corporation  to  be  Prefident  of  faid  College,  I 
did  then  exprefs  to  you  my  grateful  Acknowledgment  of 
the  Regards  mown  me  by  fo  Hon.  and  Rev.  a  Body, 
and  my  humble  Senfe  of  my  own  Unworthinefs  thereof. 
Since  which  I  have  privately  feen  a  Copy  of  the  Vote 
of  the  Hon.  Houfe  of  Reprefentatives  of  December  3. 
fent  up  for  Concurrence,  which  Vote  I  am  informed  has 
been  non- concurred  by  the  Honourable  his  Majefty's 
Council,  and  hereupon  fearing  left  on  my  Account  there 
may  be  like  to  enfue  any  Difficulty  to  the  honourable 
Government,  or  Detriment  to  the  College  for  Want  of 
an  honourable  Allowance  or  Salary  to  the  Prefident  •, — 
I  do  therefore  willingly  lay  before  the  honourable  and  re 
verend  Overfeers,  or  before  the  General  Court  if  it  be 
thought  meet,  my  humble  Apprehenfions  relating  unto 
what  fo  nearly  concerns  the  College  and  my  felf ;  and 
as  I  judge,  its  juft  Interefls  and  Welfare  in  all  Times  to 
come.  I  crave  Leave  therefore  to  fay, 

That  I  never  fought  or  de fired,  but  modeftly  fhunned 
the  Election  that  has  been  made  of  me  to  be  the  Prefi 
dent  of  Harvard-College. 

That  I  hope  I  have  always  fliewn  my  felf  very  inclin 
able,  to  the  utmofb  of  my  Power,  every  Way  I  can,  to 
ferve  the  College,  and  have  had  great  Pleafure  therein,, 
and  I  thank  God  fometimes  no  fmall  Succefs. 

That  I  mu ft  readily  own,  I  am  very  much  difinclined 
to  leave  my  Church,  or  to  Undertake  an  Office  fo  much  a- 
bove  me,  as  that  of  Prefident  of  the  College. 

That  I  truly  efteem  it  a  Matter  of  great  Importance  to 
tie  Eftabli/hment  of  the  Churches  in  the  Province,  as  well 
as  to  the  College^  that  ordinarily  fome  grave  and  learned 

Perfon 


Cf  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N   C  0  L  M  A  N?  57 

Perfon,  who  has  been  a  confiderable  Time  in  the  Pafto- 
ral  Office,  and  is  in  fome  eminent  Degree,  gifted  for 
preaching  and  expounding  the  holy  Scriptures  to  the  Stu 
dents,  be  chofen  Prefident  of  the  College. 

That  as  I  wifh  the  Prefident  in  all  Times  to  come, 
may  efpecially  give  himfelf  unto  thefe  facred  Studies  and 
Exercifes,  fo  I  would  humbly  fupplicate  the  General 
Court  for  any  one  who  (hall  do  fo,  to  grant  him  a  very 
fufficient  and  honourable  Support. 

But  for  the  honourable  Court  toinfift  on  their  Vote  of 
"knowing  my  Mind^  whether  I  am  willing  to  accept  of  the 
Choice^  and  to  undertake  the  Office  of  Prefident^  to  which  I 
am  chofen^  and  alfo  of  knowing  my  Church's  Mind,  whe 
ther  they  can  part  from  me  before  they  will  fx  any  Salary 
for  me  in  faid  Office^  mud  determine  me  to  give  my 
Anfwer  in  the  Negative  to  the  honourable  and  reverend 
the  Overfeers  of  Harvard  College,  which  in  that  Cafe  I 
now  do. 

Finally,  As  it  highly  becomes  me  to  acquiefce  in  the 
Pleafure  and  Wifdom  of  the  honourable  Court  ;  fo  I 
hold  my  felf  now  called  in  Providence  with  new  Ar 
dours  to  recommend  the  College  to  their  wife  and  tender 
Care. 

I  afk  the  Prayers  of  the  honourable  and  reverend  Board 
and  am 

Bofton,  Dec.  loth.  1724." 

A  Second  Anfwer  upon  further  Application.' 

"  Gentlemen,    '^ 

Befeeching  the  God  of  the  Spirits  of  all  Flefh  to  provide 
gracioufly  for  the  College,  and  to  fet  a  much  worthier 
Perfon  over  it,  and  to  make  it  in  all  Times  to  come  more 
and  more  a  Bleffing  both  to  Church  and  State,  I  do  hum 
bly  think  it  my  Duty  to  return  my  Anfwer  to  the  ho 
nourable  and  reverend  Overfeers  of  Harvard-College  in 
the  Negative,  praying  you  in  Time  convenient  to  inform 

I  them 


5^          tt*  L I F  E  and  C  H  A  R  A  C  T  E  R 

them  that  I  do  not  fee  my  way   clear  to  accept  of  th$ 
Choice  made  of  me  to  be  the  Prefident  of  faid  College. 
I  am  Honoured  and   Reverend,   your  obliged 

humble  Servant." • 

Although  Dr.  Colman  excufed  himfelf  from  this  high 
Honour  andTruft,  yet  no  onefhewed  a  greaterSolicitude, 
nor  took  more  Pain.%  to  have  the  College  well  fupplyed, — 
Plis  moving  Speech  to  the  Old  South  Church  in  Bofton, 
September  the  3Oth  1724.  to  part  with  their  Reverend 
and  Honoured  Paftor,  Dr.  Jofeph  Sewall  for  that  Service, 

which  lies  before  me,  is  a  Dem  on  fl  ration  of  it. With 

many  other  EfTays  afterwards  for  its  Good. 

Dr.  Colman  writes  down  at  large   his  Opinion,   What 

Prefident  Harvard- College  needed  at  that  Day. His 

Words  are, 

"  A  Man  of  God  mould  be  fet  at  the  Head  of  it, 
"  of  confpicuous  Godlinefs,  Faith,  Love,  Patience, 

"  Meeknefs. An  upright  and  faithful  Man,  in  whom 

"  all  that  are  any  ways  related  unto,  and  concerned  for 
"  the  College,  may  put  an  entire  Confidence. 

"  One  that  will  not  only  be  a  kind  and  tender  Father 
".  to  our  Sons,  as  well  as  a  careful  Governour  of  them  ; 
"  but  will  alfo  clefire  to  be  found  a  fpiritual  Father  to 
"  them,  by  the  Will  of  God. 

<c  A  Man  of  Prayer,  one  who  will  be  fervent  in  Scp* 
"  plication  for,  and  over  our  Children,  Night  and  Day  ; 
"  as  well  as  one  apt  to  teach,  and  expound  the  Word  of 
"  God  to  them,  and  to  preach  occafionally  and  fre- 
"  quently  to  them. 

"  A  Prefident,  who  will  be  an  Affectionate  Brother 
"  to  the  refident  Fellows,  the  Tutors  ;  from  whom  they 
"  will  never  b.e  like  to  fufpect  any  Unkindnefs  or  Evil ; 

<c  but  in  whom  they  may  always  find  much   Good. • 

"  A  Man  in  whom  Gravity,  Humility  and  the  Meek- 
"  nefs  of  Wifdom  is  joined  with  a  good  Degree  of  Con- 
"  ftancy  and  Refolution,  which  happy  Conjundlion  Wll 
cc  afford  a  wife  and  fteady  Conduct,  the  beft  Spirit  of 
"  Government  for  fuch  a  Society,  and  moft  commanding 

"  the 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN^  59 

cc  the  Reverence  of  the  Students,  their  Love  and  Fear 
"  together. 

**  A  Prefident,  who  is  like  to  be  a  faft  Friend  to  thefe 
"  Churches  of  our  Lord  Jefus  ;  in  whom  they  may  al- 
"  ways  find  (through  Grace,)  a  zealous  Servant  and  a 

"  dutiful  Son. One  who  is  like  to  be  diligent  and  in- 

"  duftrious  in  the  Difcharge  of  the  Duties  of  his  Station, 
"  and  who  will  give  himfelf  wholly  to  them.  But  there 
"  is  one  Thing  more  which  meeting  with  all  the  reft  of 
cc  thefe  Accomplifhments  as  much  tox  be  defired, — Viz. 
"  That  he  be  one  in  the  middle  Age  of  Life,  which  as 
*c  it  may  invite  him  into  a  Return  to  academical  Studies 
"  fo  will  give  us  an  agreeable  Profpect  of  many  Years 
"  Service  from  him,  if  it  pleafe  God  to  prolong  his  Life. 

Dr.  Caiman  greatly  ferved  Tale  College  in  the  Colony 
of  Connefticut,  by  procuring  for  it  many  valuable  Books, 
whereby  its  Library  has  been  enriched  ;  and  on  many 
Occafions  fhewed  his  Zeal  for  the  Purity  and  Welfare  of 
that  Society. 

Three  Letters,  fhewing  Dr.  Caiman's  Zeal  for  the 
Good  of  Tale  College,  which  he  ferv'd  many  Ways,  as 
well  as  Harvard  his  Mother. 

*'  To  theRev.  Eli/ha  Williams,  Rector  of  Tale  College, 
New -Haven. 

Reverend  Sir, 

The  Fame  of  the  Reverend  Dean  Berkley's  Generofity 
to  your  College,  has  fometime  fince  furprized  and  pleaf^d 
us.  We  could  hardly  believe  the  Report  at  firft,  tfie 
Thing  being  fo  rare  and  fingular.  But  I  hear  the  Go- 
vernour  has  actually  received  the  Dean's  Pacquer,  and 

delivered  it   to  Dr.  C- to  tranfmit  to  you.     If  the 

Gift  comes  to   you,  as  the  honoured  Mr.  tiollis  his  Do 
nations  did  to  us  (and  as  we  hope  it  does,)  with  a  truly 
catholick  Spirit,  for  the  Support  and  Propagation  of  Re 
ligion 


66  n*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

ligion  and  Learning  among  you,  without  any  Conditions 
or  Limitations  which  areinconfiftent  with  or  may  be  fub- 
verfive  of  the  known  and  true  Intent  and  Foundation  of 
your  College  ;  nothing  can  be  more  noble  and  generous 
than  this  Act  of  the  Rev.  Dean's,  nor  can  we  enough 
praife  and  admire  it  ;  and  we  mail  be  ready  to  join  with 
you  in  our  moil  hearty  Thanks  to  God  and  his  Servant, 
for  fo  great  and  unexpected  a  Favour  to  you.  But  give 
me  Leave  to  fay  to  you  on  the  other  Hand,  and  I  am 
very  free  to  fay  it  to  all  the  World,  and  I  doubt  nor, 
but  it  would  honour  me  to  the  Dean  himfelf,  That  if 
the  Gift  comes  to  you  clogged  with  any  Conditions  that 
directly  or  indirectly  tend  to  the  Introduction  of  Epifco- 
pacy,  and  confequently  to  the  Subverfion  of  the  true  In 
tent  and  Foundation  of  your  College,  then  were  it  ten 
Times  as  much  as  it  is,  and  your  Poverty  much  more  than 
it  is,  I  truft  neither  your  felf,  nor  any  of  the  Reverend 
Truftees  will  be  under  the  leafl  Temptation  to  accept 
the  Benefaction  on  fuch  a  Condition  :  Your  Wifdom,  In 
tegrity  and  Fidelity  will  forbid  it,  while  Prudence,  Hu 
manity  and  true  Chriftianity  will  allow  and  direct  you  to 
make  your  Excufes  to  the  Reverend  Donor  with  great 
Refpect  and  juft  Acknowledgment. 

I  pray  yon,  Sir,  to  put  a  candid  Interpretation  on  my 
prefent  Writing.  I  do  it  not  without  the  Advice,  and 
at  the  Motion  of  wifer  and  better  Friends  to  you,  than  I 
may  pretend  to  be  ;  though  you  know  my  approved 
Friendmip  to  your  College,  for  the  Sake  of  thefe  Churches 
of  Chrift. 

I  write  Letters  to  Day  of  the  fame  Import  with  this, 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Adams  of  New-London,  and  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Williams  of  Pom/ret^  who  I  hope  will  concur  with 
you  in  the  fame  Sentiments  that  are  here  exprefled,  and 
that  all  the  Reverend  Truftees  will  be  infpired  with  a  juft 
Zeal  for  the  Prefervation  of  the  known  Principles  of 
the  New-Englifh  Churches,  and  to  tranfmit  them  down 
to  our  Pofterity  pure  and  entire  by  the  Will  of 
God 


'cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N^  6r 

Sir,  I  wifh  you  always  the  divine  Blefiing,  Influence 
'and  Conduct 'in  all  that  concerns  the  College,  its  Inftruc- 
tion  and  Government,  and  am, 

Your  affectionate  Brother, 

And  very  humble  Servant, 

B.  C. 
Softon,  Dec.  2.   1732. 

**  To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elipbakt  Adams  of  New-London. 

Rev.  Sir, 

As  you  are  one  of  the  Truftees  for  Tale  College,  and 
I  know  you  have  the  Welfare  of  that  Society  much  at 
Heart,  as  well  as  the  Doctrines  and  Laws  of  the  King 
dom  of  Chrift  as  received  in  thefe  Churches  ;  fo  at  the 
Defire  of  fome  of  your  fincere  and  adeemed  Friends  here 
I  take  upon  me  to  write  to  you  at  this  Time,  upon  the 
Fame  of  the  noble  Gift  to  your  College,  from  the  rever 
end  and  learned  Dean  Berkley. 

I  hope  it  comes  to  you  without  the  Clog  of  any  Con 
dition  that  is  inconfiftent  with  or  fubverfive  of  the  known 
and  true  Intent  of  the  Honourable  Founders  of  your  Col 
lege  ;  and  that  the  Reverend  Truftees  will  carefully  fee 
that  it  does  fo  before  they  accept  of  that  or  any  other 
Donation,  from  whatever  Perfon  of  Honour  and  Diftinc- 
tion,  or  of  whatfoever  Value  it  may  be. 

If  the  Reverend  Dean  has  from  a  Catholick  Spirit, 
without  any  private  and  particular  Views  to  the  Intro 
duction  of  Epifcopacy  into  your  College  and  the  Churches 
of  your  Province,  made  the  Gift  of  his  Eflate  here  to 
you,  it  is  an  Act  worthy  of  our  highefl  Efteem,  Emula 
tion  and  Gratitude,  and  his  Praife  ought  to  be  in  our 
Churches.  I  fhall  long  to  hear  it  is  fo,  and  entreat  you 
to  let  us  know  it  as  foon  as  may  be,  that  we  may  join 
your  Acknowledgments  to  him. 

And  yet  if  the  Donation  fliould  be  fo  limited,  as  that 
it  will  not  be  fafe  nor  juft  in  you  to  accept  of  it,  I  (hall 
however  think  honourably  of  the  Dean's  noble  Offer  to 

you 


6z          Me  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

you  upon  his  known  Principles  in  Favour  of  Epifcopacy  ; 
and  with  all  poflible  Refpect  to  him  you  may  let  him 
know  you  cannot  accept  of  it.  .  jjnt 

Forgive  me,  dear  Sir,  that  I  mould  trouble  you  on  fo 
plain  a  Matter,  which  yet  is  of  great  Importance  in  Point 
of  Prejudice  to  our  Churches,  and  the  profefied  Interefts 
of  Religion  in  them,  if  a  due  Caution  be  not  ufed  in  it. 
The  Danger  is  of  acting  fuddenly,  without  a  deliberate 
Confideration  of  the  Matter  by  the  Reverend  Truftees  ; 
whofe  united  Thanks  are  the  lead,  I  think,  that  fo  great 
and  frank  a  Donation  calls  for. 

I  have  juft  wrote  my  Thoughts  on  this  Head  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  the  learned  and  faithful  Rector  of  the 
College,  to  which  I  refer  you  when  you  fee  him  :  And 
to  Mr.  Williams  of  Pomfret. 

Give  me  Leave  to  add  one  Word  more  concerning 
the  Bruit  of  the  Prevalence  of  Arminianifm  in  the  Col 
lege.  I  am  told  that  you  were  your  felf  in  fuch  Appre- 
henfions  and  Fears  on  that  Head,  that  you  enquired  ear- 
neftly  of  your  Son  concerning  it  ;  and  that  the  deceafed 
aged  Mr.  Woodbridge  of  Hartford  a  little  before  his  Death 
was  under  great  Concern  on  that  Account.  It  would  be 
acceptable  to  fome  fuperior  Friends  here,  if  you  would 
freely  write  upon  that  Head  ;  more  efpecially  if  you  can 
vindicate  the  College  from  the  Afperfion.  We  hope  and 
believe  the  Reverend  Truflees  and  Rector  have  made  a 
faithful  Enquiry  into  that  Matter. 

I  thought  to  have  wrote  but  a  Line  or  two,  and  yet 
have  got  to  this  Length.  Forgive  it,  and  accept  of  what 
is  fincerely  meant  for  the  publick  and  common  Intereft 
of  Religion  among  us.  May  God  be  with  you  in  all  your 
private  and  publick  Labour?,,  in  the  Service  of  it.  And 
pray  for  Your  Brother  and  Servant, 

Dec.  2.  1732.,  B.  C. 

".tCr    '.    M:      ;      •       •  Tj°{ 

"  To  the  Rev.Mr.  Ebtnezer  Williams  of  Pomfret. 

Rev.   Sir, 

I  am  almoft  too  much  a  Stranger  to  you,    to  take 

the 


tf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL-MAM^  63 

tlie  Freedom  I  now  do  to  write  on  a  very  rare  and  im 
portant  Occurrence  ;  but  fome  Friends  here  to  whom  you 
are  more  known,  move  me  to  do  it.     I  take  you  to   be 
one  of  the  Reverend  Truftees  of  Tale  College,  and  a 
hearty  Friend  to  the  religious  Principles  and  Intention  of 
its  Founders.     The  reverend  and  learned  Dean  Berkley^ 
has  (we  hear)  made  a  Gift  of  his  Eftate  in  New-England 
to  your  College  •,  a  great  and  noble  Donation  truly,  and 
what  challenges  your  and  our  moft  grateful  Acknowledg 
ment,  if  it  be  not  attended  with  any  Limitation  or  Con 
ditions  prejudicial  to  the  original  Defign  and  Foundation 
of  the  College.     I  intreat,  Sir,  your  faithful  Enquiry  into 
this  Matter,  and  I  do  it  in  the  Name   of  your  Friends 
here,  who  have  a  great  Dependance  on  your  Fidelity  in 
the  Caufe  of  Chrift  and  thefe   Churches.     I  hope  the 
Dean's  Gift  comers  clear  and  open  to  you,  and  not  to  in 
troduce    Epifcopacy,   notwithftanding  his  known   Senti 
ments   in  Favour  of  it.     I   fuppofe    the  Truftees  mud 
meet,  and  will  deliberately  confider  of  the  Gift,    before 
an  Anfwer  be  returned  to  the  generous  and  learned  Do 
nor.     If  it  can  with  Safety,  Honour   and  Juftice  be  ac 
cepted,  I  am  fure  it  ought  with  the  utmoft  Readinefs  and 
Acknowledgment,  as  a  fingular  Inftance  in  our  Day  of  a 
large  and  catholick  Spirit.     But  if  the   Meaning  of  the 
Gift  be  plainly  the  Propagation  of  Epifcopacy  infteadof 
fimple  Chriflianity,  Heu  \   timco  \     It  is  better  to   excufe 
our  felves  from  fuch  Gifts,    and  remain  in  our  primitive 
Poverty  and  Simplicity.     I  mould  not  be  unwilling  the 
Dean  himfelf  mould   know  what  and  why  I  now  write. 
The  Cafe  is   plain   and  open,  and  yet  I  know  I  expofe 
my  felf  to  grofs  Mifreprefentations.     I  hope  I  mail  ftand 
right  and  juftified  in  your  fober  Thoughts  ;  and  if  I  do, 
you  will  doubtlefs  think  your  felf  concerned  to  act  as  you 
think  God  will  approve  in  this  Matter.     That  you  may 
always  have  his  Prefence  and  Guidance,  is   the  hearty 
Prayer  of  Sir, 

Your  Brother  and  humble  Servant, 
Dec.  2.  1732.  B.  C." 

He 


S4         n*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

He  ferved  much  and  long  in  the  religious  Affairs  of 
the  Indians  being  commifiioned  .and  employed  by  the 
Indian  Corporation  in  London.^ 

Sept.  4th  1730,  He  was  appointed  one  of  the  Commif- 
fioners  by  the  honourable  and  reverend  Society  for  propa 
gating  Chriftian  Knowledge  at  Edinburgh,  and  by  many 
Letters  fent  to  and  received  from  the  worthy  Members 
thereof  it  appears  that  he  was  indefatigable  in  managing 
that  important  Truft  which  he  refigned  about  the  Year 
1740. 

He  wrote  once  and  again  to  Mon/ieur  Levergiat  a  Je- 
fuit  among  our  Eaftern  Tribes  of  Indians  on  Occafion 
of  one  of  his  Letters  to  one  of  our  worthy  Mifilonaries 
on  Georges  River.  For  divers  good  Reafons  they  are  here 
inferted. 

"  R.  Domine,  Pax  et  Gratia  Chrifti  / 

Digniflimus  D.  Secomb^  Juvenus  EmifTarius,  prascelllus 
Gravitate,  Pietate,  et  Zelo  erga  Deum  et  Homines,  me 
Literis  benignis  veftris,  ei  tranfcriptis,  obligavit.  Valde 
gratum  mini  eft,  Vir  Reverende,  obfervare  fraternam 
veftram  eft  vere  Chriftianam  Temperiem,  Animumque 
placidum,  in  Epiftolis  tuis  refplendentem.  Omnino  hoc 
refpondetNarrationi  Reverendi  D.  Rutherford,  deHnmana 
tua  Vifitatione  nuper  ab  illo  accepta.  Moleftum  mihi 
et  offcnfum  eflet,  fi  D.  Secomb  non  promptus  fuiflet  Ur- 
bamtates  tuas  reddere,  omni  cum  Obfervantia  et  Rever- 
entia,  muneri  et  Ernditioni  Veftra  debita.  Sed  de  Amore, 
Humilitate,  et  Manfuetudine,  D.  Secomb  fcribere  non  opus 
eft.  Divinse  has  Gratis  devinciunt  ilium  Tibi,  fi  ex  Li 
teris  tuis  Conjecluram  faciam.  Tentate  Vos  fimul,  quis 
Gratia  Chrifti  in  his  fuperabit.  Magis  eftimamus  Bene- 


f  This  Society,  was  founded  by  the  Englifli  Parliament,  on  July 
27.  1649  ;  eftablifhed  by  King  Charles  Second  1661, and  ftiled  theSo- 
ciejy  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel  in  New -Eng land,  and  the  Parts 
adjacent  in  dmtrica.  And  as  the  Defign  is  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gofpel  among  the  Indians  only  :  This  Society  have  all  along  had  their 
ComraifTiojiers  for  the  Indian  Affairs  at  Bojlon. 

1  volentiam 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N.'  65 

Benevolentiam  Domini  Lauvarial  erga  nos,  propter  Or- 
dinem  fuum.  Generofi  (dicam  ?)  e  Societate  Jefu  lolent 
nos  Hasreticos  (  falfo  vocatos  )  Diftantia  cum  fumma  et 
Averfione  tractare.  TU,  Domine,  multo  magis  Chrifti- 
anus  et  Generofus,  Tu  "  non  ita  Dominum  Jefum  didi- 
"  cifti."  "  Ira  Hominis  Juftitiam  Dei  non  operatur." 

Gaudeo,  Domine,  et  vehementer  lsetor,deZelo  Veftro, 
et  Sollicitudine  pro  Moribus  Barbarorum,  cogitans  :  Spe- 
ciatim  adverius  perniciofas  illornm  Compotationes  et  E- 
brietates.  Digoiflima  Laude  base  tua  Cura  eft,  et  Zelus. 
Hos  Mores  illorum  asgre  fers,et  iniquoAnimo,  ut  oportet. 
Barbari  fane  fatis  ifti  funt,  et  ftnpidi,  fine  Potationibus, 
quibus  fiunt  tanquam  Bruta  Animalia,  et  in  fua  Corrup- 
tione  peribunt.  Sed  plane  falleris,  et  nobis  quidem  in- 
ferres  Injurias,  fi  male  fenfires  de  Prsefeclu  fummo,  vel 
Magiftradbus  Noftris,  vel  etiam  de  Ducibus  Arcium  nof- 
trarum  •,  quafi  ullo  modo  tolerarint  Venditionem  inebri- 
antis  Potus,  fine  Menfura,  Indis.  Attamen  femper  erunt 
in  impio  Mundo,  Negotiatores  impii,  qui  Lucri  turpis 
Caufa,  non  hasrebunt  in  Flagitio  ullo  perpetrando,  vel  ne- 
quifllmo.  "  Qy1^  non  Mortalia  Peftora  cogis,  Auri 
."  Sacra  Fames  ?"  Non  alii  nobis  videntur  ifti  Clandeftini 
Venditores,  quam  Inirnici  truculenti,  et  Indorum,  et  fuae 
illorum  etiam  Patriae.  Vas  illis  qui  inebriant  hos  ftupidos 
Barbaros,  ut  fuper  nuditates  eorum  afpiciant.  Fundetur 
fuper  eos  Calix  Dextrae  Jehovte^  fin  minus  in  hoc  mundo, 
at  certe  in  Futuro,  fine  Refipifcentia. 

Indignatione  noftra  ita  dida  contra  iniquos  Homines, 
fimus  conjuncYi  Precibus  noftris  Patri  Luminum  etMiferi- 
cordias,  in  Nomine  Unici  Mediatoris  inter  Deum  et  Ho 
mines,  Jefu  nempe  Chrifti^  pro  miferrimis  hifce  Barbaris  ; 
ut  convertantur  a  Tenebris  ad  Lucem,  et  a  Poteftate  Sa- 
tanae  ad  Deum.  Hoc  enim  bonum  et  acceptum  eft  co- 
ram  Salvatore  Noftro  Deo,  qui  omnes  vult  Salvos  fieri, 
et  ad  Agnitionem  Veritatis  venire. 

Totum  igitur  Dei  Verbum  in  Manibus  eorum  commit- 
tere,  et  coram  Oculis  propdnere,  volumus  •,  quo  Volun- 
tatem  Dei  legere  poflint,  et  afTertam  Viam  Sajutis  cer- 

K  nere— 


LIFE  ^CHARACTER 

nere — Scil  ;  Sanctifkationem  Spiritus,  et  Juftificationem 
Peccatoris  per  Solam  Juftitiam  Chrifti,  Fide  acceptam, 
ex  Operibus  bonis  perfecla. 

Hoc  magnum  eft  Depofitum  Chrifti,  concreditum 
Tibi,  Vir  Dei  !  fi  eo  Nomine  Gloriofo  Te  dignum  velis 
prebere.  Avertat  Deus  a  Nobis  Verba  ilia  terribilia 
Chrifti  Legis  peritis,  "  Vas  Vobis,  quia  tuliftis  Clavem 
Scientias." 

Nos,  fateor,  decet  invicem  non  parvnm  concedere 
propter  Praejudicium  Educationis  •,  fed  Exemplar  habe- 
mus  et  Arbitrum  Unicum,  fcil  -,  Sincerum  Verbum  Dei. 
Ex  Corde  opto,  et  Tibi  et  mihi,  Illuminationem  Salvifi- 
cam  a  Beato  ipiritu,  qui  infpiravit  Scriptores  Sanclos. 
*e  Teftis  enim  eft  mihi  Dens  (fi  licet  uti  Verbis  Apoftoli 
"  ad  Philippenfes)  ut  defiderem  Vos  omnes  in  Vifceribus 
*'  Jefu  Chrifti  ;  et  hoe  precor  ut  Charitas  noftra  adhuc 
46  magis  et  magis  abundet,  cum  Agnitione  et  omni  In- 
"  telligentia  ;  ut  probemus  quse  funt  utilia,  et  fimus  im- 
*5  pleti  Fruclibus  Juftitise,  qui  funt  per  Jefum  Chriftum 
"  in  Gloriam  et  L^udem  Dei." 

Vale,  Vir  Humaniflime  !  Gratia  Chrifti  tecum,  et 
Afflatus  Divini  Spiritus.  In  Precibus  tuis  in  Mentem, 
veniat  Amicuset  Frater  Omnibus  qui  diligunt  Dominum 
noftrum  Jefum  Chriftum  in  Sinceritate, 

n     r< 

S.  S.  Theol.  bpcl. 

Bofton.  Augufti,  Die.  Apud  Boftonienfes. 

16.  1732. 


Domino  Stephano  Lauveriat, 

E  Societate  Jefu, 

Paunalfcot. 


"  Domine,  et  Frater  Charifiime,  Pax  Chrifti  ! 

Literas  Veftras   arnicas    et  pias,    fine  Tempore  fcri- 

bendi,  nuper  accepi,  Cura  D.  Secomb  -,  et  tibi  maximede- 

vindlum   me    habeo,   propter  fraternam   SoHicitudinem 

quam  exprirnis,et  ,?elum—  Verbis  vere  divinis,  pro  anirnji 

nea 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN."  6*7 

mea  immortali,  ejufque  ^Etcrna  Salute.  Nee  minori  Be- 
nevolentia  Chriftiana  erga  Te  ardeo,  quod  Gratiam  Dei 
in  Veritate  cognofcere  po(Tis,et  impleri  Cognidone  Volun- 
tatis  ipfius,  in  omni  Sapientia,  et  Prudentia  Spiritual!.  In 
Hoc  unum  fumus,  ficut  decet  Miniftros  Verbi  Chrifti— ~ 
Scd  (proh  Dolor  !)  quam  fejuncti  Sumus  et  diftantes,  fub 
gloriofo  Nomine  ChriiViano,  in  Dogmate  et  Communione. 
Ita  prasdixit  Dominus  Nofter  Jefus,  non  fine  fancla  Ira  et 
Dolore  Summo,  "  Vse  Mundo.  Mattb.  xiii.  7.  Ne- 
cefife  eft  enim  ut  veniant  Offendicula  ;  veruntamen  vae 
Homini  perquem  venit  Offendiculum."  Quasftio  ergo 
eft,  Unde  veniunt  ?  Utriim  a  nobis  Reformatis,  an  ab 
Ecclefia  Romanorum,  quas  fallb  fibi  arrogat  Nomen 
Catholicae. 

Commiferatione  multa  me  profecutus  es   (chariflime 
Amice  !)  quia  non  natus  et  educatus  intra  Parietes  Eccle- 
fiae  Veftrae,  extra  maneo  :    Ego  autem  (quae  Educationis 
felicis  eft  Vis  et  Efficacia,  una  et  Scripturse  Notitia  ab  In- 
fantia  jam   ufque  prima)   non  ceflb   Gratias  agere  Deo, 
quod  Linear  mea  et  mea  Temporae  prolapfa  funt   inter 
Reformatos.     Video  fatis,  non  tantum  ex  Scriptis  Theo- 
logorum  Noftrorum,  fed  ex  Sincero  Verbo  Dei,  Manibus 
non  folum  Paftorum,   fed  et  Populi,  traclato,   Superftiti- 
ones  et  Idololatriam  Papifticas  Ecclefise  Romance.     Atta- 
men  Meipfum  non  tali  Pretioet  Honore  habeo,  quad  ulla 
mea  Sapientia  vel  Sagacitate  Errores  illos  fatales   invefti- 
gare  potuiffem,  fi  Divina  Providentia  Natale  meum   af- 
fignaflfet,  in  Regionibus  Pontificiis.  Heu  !  quantum  debeo 
liberae  Gratiae  Dei,  quod  Sortem,  meam  defignaverit,  fub 
Radiis  folaribus  prsedicati  Evangelii,in  Linqua  materna,  et 
purioris  Cultus,  a  Portis  Rom<e  remotum — "  Exite  Populi 
"  mei,  dixit  Dominus  nofter  Salvator,  ne  Participes  fitis 
: <c  Delidorum  ejus,  et  de  Plagis  ejus."     Heu  !  quantum 
eft  Prejudicium  Educationis,  quod  non  cernis  Ecclefiam 
Romanam  hodiernam  non    pofTe  dici  veram  Ecclefiatn 
Chrifti.     cc  Non  fuperftrufla  eft  Fundamento  Propheta- 
"  rum  et   Apoftolorum."     Multa  addit  Scripturis   Ca- 
nonicis,  et  multa  fubtrahit  ab  illis,  fine  Timore  diVinae 
*&  Prohibitionis, 


68  ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 


Prohibitionis,D^«/.iv.2.  vel  tremendas 
xxii.io,i9.  "Defecit  a  Fide  femel  Sanftis  tradita,  et  vaYias 
Hasrefes  exitiales  docet,  fub  Paena  Anathematis.  Exempli 
Gratia  Sanctorum  Merita,  Satisfacliones  humanas,  Indul- 
gentias,  Tranfubftantiationem,  Sacrificum  Miflaticum,  Pri- 
matum  Papas,  Ecclefias  Infallibilitatem,  &c.  Cum  Primi?, 
Idolatricus  Cultus  et  Superftitiofus  flagrans  eft  et  horren- 
dus.  Ratione  Objefti^  praeter  Deum.  Opt.  Max.  unicum 
Cultus  et  Invocationis  Objeftum,  Creaturas  etiam  (quse 
non  funt  Dii)  veneramini  et  adoratis,  Beatam  nempe  Vir- 
ginem,  Angelos,  Sandtos  defundlos,  Hoftiam,  Crucem, 
et  Reliquias.  Ratione  Modi,  Simulacra  et  Imagines  ve 
neramini,  in  Contemptu  Secundi  Prascepti,  ejufque  Com- 
minationis.  "  Non  fades  tibi  SculptiJe,  neque  ullam  Ima- 
"  ginem,  &c.  non  adorabis  ea,  neque  coles —  Ego  enim 
"  Jehova  Deus  tuus,  Deus  Zelotes,  &c."  Tranfeo  Su- 
perbiam  Papas,  ejufque  Dominationem  fuper  Reges  Ter^ 
ras,  qui  Coronas  ei  fuas  dederunt,  quia  necefle  eft  ut  Scrip- 
tura  impleatur.  Tranfeo  majorem  Arrogantiam,  in  Dif- 
penfationibus  Legum  Divinarum,  et  in  Ufurpationibus  fur 
per  Confcientiam,  Dominium  Solius  Dei.  "  Ita  fe  ex- 
*'  tollit  adverfus  Omne  quod  dicitur  Deus  am  Numen, 
<c  et  in  Templo  Dei  fedet  tanquam  Deus  ;  oftendens 
c<  Seipfum  quafi  fit  Deus."  2  nejf.  ii.  4.  Tranfeo  im- 
manes  Perfecutiones,  quibus  fuit  Oceanus  Sanguinis  effu- 
fusv  &c.  Excufatum  me  habeas  fDomine,  Amice)  (i 
nunquam  fuero  Membrum  illius  Ecclefias,  cujus  caput  eft 
Papa  Iniquus  ille  quem  Dominus  in  fuoTempore  deftruet 
Spiritu  Oris  Sui.  Myfterium  eft  Iniquitatis. 

Iterum  atque  iterum  Spiritus  clare  prasdixit  Regnum 
eit  Tempora  Magni  Antichrifti,  quod  multi  defcifcent  a 
Fide,  attendcntes  Spiritibus  Impoftoribus,  et  Dodrinis 
Daemonum,  prohibentium  Matrimonium  contraherc,  et 
jubentium  abftinere  a  Cibis  quos  Deus  creavit  ut  excipe- 
rentur  cum,  Gratiarum  Adlione.  Hoc  etiam  in  EccJefia 
Veftra  impletum  vides  ;  et  Populi  Veftri  SimpJices  vi- 
diflent,  fi  Ufus  Scripturae  conceffus  ilJis  fuiflet. 

Proiedlo,  Domine,quum  Controverfias  interPontificios 

ec 


0/  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N."  69 

ct  quum  Triginta  abhinc  Annis  Peregrinus  fui  trimeflris 
in  nobili  et  amasno  Regno  Francise,  ftupefactus  fui  pro- 
digiofam  Corruptionem  Religionis  Chrifti,  Ignorantiam 
PJebis,  et  Facilitatem  Digniorum,  obfervans. 

Te  Domine,  Admiratione  in  maxima  habeo,  et  Fratres 
tuos  Emifiarios,  qui  Vitam  confumunt  inter  Barbaros,  eo- 
rum  Salutis  Gratia.  Maximum  erit  Premium  Veftrutn 
in  Caelis,  fi  veram  Doftrinam  et  purum  Cultum  Chrifti 
doces  his  Barbaris,  et  fi  vero  A  more  Chrifti  et  Animarum 
agis.  Sed,  cavete  (Viri  Singulares  !)  ne,  deceptis  Vobis 
ipfis,  Seduclores  fitis,  et  ambo  in  Foviamcadatis.  Heu  ! 
timeo  ne  Ignorantia  Barbarorum  precantium  in  Lingua 
ignota,  fine  Contritione  precantium,  retentura  fit  eos  pro- 
cul  a  Regno  Dei,  etiam  fi  ad  Sobrietatern  et  Manfuetu- 
dinem  reclamare  pofTts.  Regnnm  Dei  eft  Spirituale  et 
in  Nobis.  Non  eft  Efca  et  Potus,  fed  Juftitia  et  Pax  et 
Gaudium  in  Spiritu  Sancto.  Nimis  Augufti  fumus  Nos 
Reformati  in  his  Divinis  Fru&ibus  S.  S.  Spiritus  ;  ex 
Animo  opto,  multo  largiores  fieri  in  iifdem  Pontificios. 

Fratres  Chriftiani  !  Nos  ipfos  judicemus,  et  alii  pro  aliis 
precemur,  ut  finceri  et  fideles  in  Chrifto  reperiamur  !  Spe- 
ciatim  Te  HumanifTime  Domine  et  Frater,  commendo 
Deo  et  Sermoni  Gratise  ipfius,  qui  potens  eft  fuperftruere, 
ct  dare  probis  Haereditatem  inter  Omnes  Sandificatos  ! 

Sum  Tui  Obfervantiflimus 
Boft.  Julii  30.  1733.  et  addiftiffimus,  &c. 

•£.  C. 

As  his  Heart  was  much  fet  upon  ferving  this  and  o- 
ther  Millions  to  the  Tribes  of  Indians  on  our  Borders,  of 
which  you  will  hear  hereafter,  and  his  Mind  and  Pen 
employ'd  in  the  good  Work  going  on  among  them  : 
So  he  was  no  lefs  folicitoufly  concerned  to  have  the  pure 
Gofpel  fent  inro  Places  within  our  feveral  Governments, 
where  the  Inhabitants  were  either  under  ftrange  Preju 
dices  againft  it  j  or  fo  poor  that  they  could  not  honoura 
bly  fupport  it.  Accordingly,  he  layed  out  himfelf  to  the 
uttermoft  to  collecT:  Moneys  for  the  Maintenance  of  futa- 

^  .  :        hie 


70  fbe  L  IF  E  and  C  H  A  R  A  C  T  &R 

ble  MifTionarics,  and  always  gave  liberally  of  his  own  E- 
ftate.  —  This  appears  from  many  Papers  encouraging 
Subfcriptions  for  Block  I/land,  Nantucket^  Providence^  &c. 
&c.  &c.*  —  He  alfo  for  a  long  Time  ftood  Treafurer  for 
fome  of  them  which  cod  him  much  Pains  and  Labour. 
—  In  his  younger  Times  he  has  gone  himfelf  in  Perfon 
to  preach  among  them.  The  Letters  he  has  been  called 
to  write  on  fuch  Occafions  would  make  a  Volume. 

He  projected  and  eiTayed  to  do  good  many  other 
Ways.  —  I  find  two  Papers,  on  the  Outfide  of  which  is 
written,  My  own,  the  one  about  fetting  up  Charity* 
Schools,  the  other  a  Propofal  of  a  Fund  for  pious  Ufes, 
both  highly  worthy  to  be  publilhed  to  the  World,  and  are 
therefore  here  inferted. 


;  ;    ••)  ~ 

Bojlon,  New-England,  Feb.  1713. 

"  Whereas  it  has  of  late  Years  pleafed  God  by  his 
Grace,  wonderfully  to  incline  and  fpirit  many  pioufly  dif- 
pofed  People  in  the  feveral  Parts  of  our  Nation,  to  fet 
up  and  fupport  many  Charity-  Schools,  for  the  Mainte 
nance  and  Education  of  poor  Children  of  either  Sex  ; 
and  in  his  Providence  to  fmile  on  thofe  their  good  En 
deavours  ;  the  Fame  whereof  reaching  us  in  thefe  dif- 
tant  Regions  has  provoked  a  Zeal  to  a  likeUndertaking, 
for  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  Good  of  this  Place. 

And  as  we  juftly  apprehend  there  can  be  no  Sort  of 
Charity  more  acceptable  to  God,  and  beneficial  to  our 
Country  than  this  •,  nothing  being  more  likely  under  the 
Blefling  of  God,  to  ferve  unto  the  Reformation  of  Man 
ners,  the  preventing  the  Growth  of  Profanefs  and  De 
bauchery  among  us,  and  to  promote  Virtue  and  true 
{jodlinefs,  than  an  early  and  pious  Education  of  Youth  : 
We  do  therefore  propofe,  under  the  Favour  and  Direc 
tion  of  God,  to  endeavour  the  fetting  up  and  fupporting 

__  _  __ 

*  Alfo  South-Carolina—  The  IJland  of  Bermuda-—  Cape  May  were 
greatly  ferved  by  his  Care,  Correspondence  and  Endeavours  to  fettle 
the  Gofpd  among  them. 

two 


0/ Dr.  BEN  j  A  MIN  OOLMAN.  7I 

two  Charity-Schools  or  Hofpitals,  in  the  Town  of  Boftw 
in  New-England,  the  One  for  the  intire  Maintenance,  In- 
ftruction  and  godly  Education  of  poor  Boys,  the  other  of 
poor  Girls. 

In  Order  whereunto  it  is  propofed,  cj 

1.  That  there  be  fome  convenient  Place  and   Habita 
tion  provided  :    And   particularly    that    the   Town    be 
moved  at  their  next  Town-Meeting,    to  appropriate  the 
long  Houfe  upon  Fort- Hill,  with  fome  Addition  of  Land 
for  a  Garden,  and  fome  adjoining  Spot  for  a  Pafture,  if 
it  might  be  obtain'd  ;    to  be  given    for  this  Ufe  for  fc* 
long  a  Time  as  the  Charity  propofed    fhall  continue   to 
make  this  Improvement  of  it. 

2.  That  the  Children  entertained   in  the  faid  Schools 
fhall  be  fuch  as  are  the  proper  Objefts  of  Charity,  by 
Reafon  of  Poverty  ;    fo  that  all  fuch  in  the  Town  with 
out  Diftinftion  or  Refpecl,  be  meant   equally  to  be  pro 
vided  for   in  this  Charity  -9    fo  far  as  the  Fund  defigned 
fhall  be  found  fufficient. 

3.  That  where  poor  People  are  feen  vifibly  to  neglecl: 
their  Children,  and  by   fuch  their   Neglecl  to   abandon 
them   to  Vice  and   Idlenefs  ;    and  are  yet  unwilling    to 
have  their  Children    maintained  and  educated  in   a  Way 
of  publick  Charity  •,  the  Help  of  the  Laws  provided,  or 
that  (hall  be  provided  in  than  Cafe  (hall  be  fought  and 
taken. 

4.  That  the  Maintenance  propofed  for  the  Children  is 
the  whole  Provifion  of  Lodging,  Food,  Phyfick,  Cloth* 
ing,  Firing,  Warning,  Tendance,  and  every  Thino-  ne- 
ceffary  to  their  decent  and  comfortable  Subfiftence  :  And 
that  the  Children  be  clothed  alike  in  fome  Livery,  where 
by   they    may   be  known  ;    and  kept  neat,   clean  and 
wholefom. 

5.  That  from  fix   Years  old  and   upward,  Children 
ihall  be  received   into  thefe  Schools   or  Hofpitals,   there 
to  be  (upported  and  inftrudled   till  Twelve  or  Fourteen 
Years  of  Age  i    And  then  as  they    (hall  be  found  fit  to 
be  difpofed  of  by  the  Care  of  the  Omfeers,  confuting 

the 


7^  The  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

the  Children's  Capacity  and  Inclinations,  to  Services  and 
Trades. 

6.  That  the   Children   be  inftrufted   carefully  in  the 
Principles  and  Duties  of  Religion  ;    taught  to  read  well, 
to  write  and  cypher  :    The  Girls  to  knit,  few,  fpin,  and 
whatfoever  may  be  proper  to  keep  them  employed,  and 
fit  them  for  Services,  and  to  get  their  Living  in  the 
World. 

7.  That  there  be  ftrict  Rules  of  Difcipline  and  Go 
vernment  obferved,  to  reftrain  the  Children  from  Idlenefs, 
and  for  the  Punifhment  of  every  Thing  that  is  vicious  ; 
to  form  them  into  good  Manners  and  virtuous  Behaviour, 
and  that  particular   Care  be  taken  for  their  reverent  Be 
haviour  in  God's  Worfhip,  and  the  Sanctification  of  the 
Lord's-Day. 

8.  That  there  be  daily  Prayers,  Morning  and  Evening, 
with  the  reading  the  holy  Scriptures,  attended  with  futa- 
ble  Solemnity,  and  none  allowed  to  be  abfent. 

9.  That   the  Matter  and   Miftrefs  of  the  Schools   be 
Perfons  of  good  Life,  and  Repute  for  Knowledge,  Pru 
dence  and  a  Spirit  of  Government  :  Capable  of  fo  great 
a  Truft  and  Service  ;  who  mall  be  honourably  fupported. 

ic.  That  there  be  three  or  five  Truftees  chofen  annu 
ally  by  the  Subfcribers,  one  of  which  to  be  the  Trea- 
furer  •,  to  whom  the  Care,  Infpection  and  Supply  of  the 
two  Houfes  fhall  belong  •,  who  mall  keep  and  render  an 
exact  Account  of  all  Payments  made,  or  Gifts  received, 
or  of  Expences  and  Difburfements,  and  make  up  their 
Accounts  once  a  Year. 

j  i.  That  there  be  a  Number  of  Overfeers  chofen,  a- 
mong  whom  the  Mtnifters  of  the  Town  fhall  be  always 
reputed,  and  the  Truftees  for  the  Time  being  ;  to  vifit 
the  Schools  once  a  Month,  and  catechife  the  Children  -, 
when  alfo  there  fhall  be  an  Account  taken  of  their  Faults 
noted  down  by  the  Mailer  or  Miftrefs,  and  futable  Ad 
monitions  or  Corrections  adminiftred. 

12.  That  there  be  a  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Sub 
fcribers  and  Benefactors,  when  any  further  Rules  and  Me 
thods 


0/  Dr.  B  E  N  j  A  M  i  N  C  o  L  M  A  NT."  73f 

thods  from  Time  to  Time  found  necefiary  or  convenient 
lhall  be  propounded  and  agreed  unto,  and  a  publick  Ser 
mon  (hall  be  preached  finable  to  the  Occafion  ;  the 
Children  walking  in  Form  to  Church,  and  there  fitting 
together  in  the  Front-Gallery  when  they  mail  be  pub- 
Jickly  catechifed,  and  a  Collection  fhall  be  made  of  the 
Chanty  of  the  Congregation. 

13.  That  for  the  more  eafy  gathering,  and  Payment 
of  the  Sums  fubfcribed,  it  be  agreed  by  the  Subfcribers 
to  pay  the  fame  in,  at  their  Quarterly  Meetings,  to  the 
Treafurer. 

14.  Finally,  That  all  Perfons  be  affured  on  the  Faith 
of  faid  Society,   that  whatever  Sums  be  fubfcribed   and 
paid,  or  whatever  Gifts  and  Contributions  be  made,   or 
Legacies  left  by  Will  or  Teftament,  for  the  Support  and 
Benefit  of  the  faid   Schools,  fhall  be  by  them  faithfully 
and  without  Fraud,  applied  and  improved  to  the  faid  Ufe 
and  no  other. 

Wherefore  in  Purfuit  of  this  Chriftian  Defign,  we 
whofe  Names  are  underwritten,  do  hereby  agree  to  pay 
yearly  at  four  equal  quarterly  Payments,  during  Pleafure, 
the  feveral  refpective  Sums  of  Money  over  againft  our 
Names  fubfcribed.  Humbly  commending  this  our  poor 
Endeavour  and  Offering,  to  the  Blefling  and  Acceptance 
of  God,  and  ourfelves  to  his  gracious  Direction  with  Re- 
fpect  unto  any  further  Methods  of  Wifdom  and  Piety, 
which  may  bed  anfwer  trie  Intentions  above  propofed. 

*      '  T  '•  i^iLrvf      »  '"•> 

The  Propofaf'for  a  Fund. 

A  Propofal  humbly  offered  to  the  Confideration  of 
the  Minifters  and  Churches  of  Chrift,  through  this  and  the 
neighbouring  Provinces,  for  the  collecting  and  keeping  a 
fmall  Fund  of  Moneys  in  every  ChurcH,  to  be  difpofed  of 
from  Time  to  Time  in  fuch  pious  Ufes,  and  in  fuch  Pro 
portions,  as  the  particular  Churches  to  which  ^belongs 
fhall  fee  meet.  *>£\ 

As  we  are  directed  and  commanded  by  God^oSjr  Sa 
viour  to  be  ready  unto  every  good  Work>  and  to  be  rick 

*  L  ;» 


74  fbi  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

in  good  Works^\  according  to  the  Ability  which  he  has 
given  us,  and  his  Bleffing  on  us  in  our  worldly  Eftate  ; 
fo  we  are  particularly  encouraged  to  be  devifing  liberal 
Things  with  this  Promile,  That  by  liberal  Things  we  Hull 
(land.* 

This,Promife  obviates  and  removes  the  Objeftion^  that 
may  be  ready  to  rife  in  the  Minds  of  fome  ac  the  firft 
Sight  of  the  prefent  Propofal,  from  our  preient  difficult 
Circumjlances. 

For  as  one  Reafon  of  tbefe  may  be,  that  we  have  done 
and  do  no  more  in  a  free  Expence  from  Year  to  Year  as 
a  People,  for  the  Support  of  Religion  among  our  felves> 
and  the  carrying  it  unto  others  in  our  Neighbourhood  ; 
fo  one  of  the  morteft  and  moft  direct  Ways  that  a  People 
can  take  to  obtain  of  God  the  Return  of  their:  Profperity, 
and  their  future  Eftabli foment,  may  be  to  come  into 
fome  Methods  of  this  Nature  which  we  now  propofe  ; 
•with  a  pure  Aim  at  the  Honour  of  God,  and  the  Good 
of  Souls.  § 

Let  us  prove  a  gracious  and  bountiful  Providence,  if  it 
may  not  pour  out  a  Bleffing^  and  add  no  Sorrow  with  it  : 
But  what  is  of  much  greater  Weight,  and  what  we  may 
more  afiuredly  expect,  by  this  Means  we  may  reap  more 
abundantly  in  the  fpiritual  Bleffing^ —  The  Spirit  of 
God  with  his  Word  and  Ordinances  among  us,  and  on 
our  Offspring. 

It  is 

I.  That  every  particutoyiurch  do  furnifli  themfelves 
with  a  greater  or  fmalfippft^,   that  may  be  a  conftant 
and  ready  Fund  for  UjIpQf  Piety  and  Charity^  as  they 
may  fee  Occafion. 

II.  That  to  thisjpl  there  may  be  in  every  Congre 
gation  a  C0//*#/'0gffiade  on  our  Days  of  General  Fafting 


f  Tituf  fij.0;  i  Tim.  vi.  18.  I  Pet.  iv.  1 1.  *  Ife.  xxxii.  8. 
§  ProvgiivQ,  io.  Ifa.  Iviii.  8,  9,  10.  |(  Mai.  iii.  10.  Prov. 
x.  *2#i  lia.  xli*.  3,  4,  Gal.  vi.  8,  9, 

end 


Of  Dr.    BENJAMIN    COL  MAN.  75 

*nd  Thankfgiving,  appointed  by  the  Government  over  us 
from  Year  to  Year. 

III.  Thefe  Stocks  may   alfo  be  from  Time   to  Time 
increafed  by  private  Communications ',   as  any  Perfons  on 
particular  Occafions  may  find  themfelves  inclined. 

IV.  This  Evangelical  Treafury   may  be  lodged  in   the 
Hands  of  the  Deacons  of  each  of  the  Churches  where  it 
is  gathered,  or  whomfoever  the  Church  mail  appoint  to 
that  Truft  ;    and  a  true  and  fair  Accomft  mall  be  kept  by 
them,  to  be  on  all   Occafions  produced,  of  all  that  is 
brought  in,  or  laid  out. 

V.  Nothing  fliall  be  at  any  Time,  or  for  any  Occafion 
drawn  out,  without   the  Knowledge  and  Content  of  the 
Church  to  which  it  belongs. 

VI.  It  is  propofed  that  the  firft  and  main  Intention  of 
thefe  Funds   (hall  be  the  Propagation  of  Religion  in  un- 
gofpelized  Places  ;    and  the  difperfing  Bibles,  Catechifms, 
and  other  Inftruments  of  Piety  among  the  Poor,  as  any 
particular  Churches  may  fee  Occafion. 

We  have  obferved  with  Thankfulnefs  to  God  for  it, 
that  of  late  Years  the  Hearts  of  many  good  Men  among 
us,  have  been  much  upon  this  great  and  good  Work  here 
propofed,  Namely,  the  Miffion  of  the  Gofpel  into  fuch 
Places  as  have  been  hitherto  negligent  or  averfe  to  the 
Settlement  of  it  among  them,  and  alfo  the  giving  Bibles, 
Catecbifms,  and  other  good*3Books  among  the  Ignorant* 
the  Prejudiced  and  the  Prdfdtoe,  as  well  as  unto  poor  and 
pious  People.  An  Odour  we  eruft  it  is  of  a  fweet  Smell, 
a  Sacrifice  acceptable  and  well  pie afing  to  God.-f 

A  more  compendious  Way  to  do  Good  to  Souls,  and 
bring  much  Glory  to  God,  can  fcarce  be  thought  of. 
The  Wtfdom  which  is  from  above,  full  of  Mercy  and  of 
good  fruits^  we  think,  has  fcarce  projected  a  more  com- 
prehenfive  and  effe&ual  Piece  of  Charity  and  Beneficence 
than  this  is. What  can  we  think  of  more  likely 

f  Phil.  iv.  1 8.     Heb.  xiii.  16.     ||  Jam.  iii.  16. 


76  fbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

to  be  owned,  accepted,  profpered  and  rewarded  by 
God  ? 

And  as  to  the  Method  we  propofe  for  the  raifing  thefe 
Funds,  fcil  by  ColleRions  in  our  Congregations  every 
publick  Faft  and  Thankfgiving  Day  ;  what  can  be  more 
agreeable  to  both  thofe  Solemnities  ? 

It  is  very  fit,  if  not  indeed  a  Duty,  that  our  Faftsboth 
private  and  publick,  fhould  be  accompanied  with  pious 
Diftributions  and  Communications  in  Ways  of  Charity 
and  Mercy.  Such  were  the  Prayers  and  Fads  of  the 
devout  Cornelius )  who  zlfozave  much  Alms  to  the  People  •,* 
and  how  well  accepted  of  God  and  rewarded,  none  need 
to  be  told.  And  fuch  is  the  publick  Faft  which  God  hath 
chofen  :  Is  it  not  to  deal  thy  Bread  to  the  Hungry,  and  that 
thou  bring  the  Poor  that  are  caft  out  to  thy  Houfe  ?  When 
thou  feeft  the  Naked  that  thou  cover  him,  &c.  Then  jhall 
thy  Light  break  forth  as  the  Morning,  and  thine  Health  Jhall 
fpring  forth fpe edily.-\  Now  from  God's  Promifes,  on  Ac 
count  of  thefe  privateExercifes  of  Bounty  and  Mercy  to  the 
Bodies  of  Men  on  our  Days  of  folemn  Fading  and  Prayer, 
we  may  well  argue  that  an  Alms  on  fuch  Occafions  de- 
figned  for  the  Salvation  of  their  immortal  Souls,  cannot 
but  be  a  Sacrifice  with  which  God  is  well-pleafed. 

Nor  do  we  at  all  mean  by  propofing  this  Offering  to 
the  Souls  of  Men,  to  put  by  the  other  to  their  Bodies  ; 
God  forbid  :  But  as  we  would  hereby  intimate  to  our 
People,  how  necefTary  an  Attendant  of  a  religious  Faft 
Alms  to  the  Poor  is,  and  what  ought  to  be  preached  to  them 
and  obferved  by  them  on  fuch  an  Occafion  ;  fo  we  only 
propofe  to  them  the  adding  a  Mite  to  be  caft  into  a  Trea- 
fury  of  the  Lord  for  the  pious  Ufes  abovefaid. 

And  then  as  to  our  Days  of  publick  Thank/giving  ;  as 
•we  cannot  but  praife  (and  blefs  God  for)  the  excellent 
Ufage  (which  has  obtained  among  us  from  the  Days  of 
our  Fathers,  and  we  pray  God  may  never  ceafe  among 
us)  of  making  Gifts  to  the  Poor,  and  fending  them  Portions 

*  Afls  x.  2 30.     f  Ifa.  Iviii.  6,  7,  8. 

from 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMINCOLMAN.  77 

from  our  Fables  :  So  we  hope,  that  the  adding  thefe  Con 
tributions  for  the  Services  of  Piety  above  propofed,  will 
be  grievous  to  none,  but  may  be  a  vaft  Benefit  to  us  both 
on  temporal  and  fpiritual  Accounts.f 

To  be  fure,  on  our  fbankfgjwrig  Days  we  fhould  re 
member  both  the  laudable  Praftice  of  the  pious  Jews 
on  their  Days  pf  Gladnefs  and  Feajling  ;  a  good  Day  and 
cf  J ending  Portions  one  to  another ',  and  of  Gifts  to  the  Poor  •,* 
and  alfo  the  Law  given  to  Ifrael  by  the  Hand  of  Mofes, 
?kat  on  their  three  yearly  Fe aft s  none  of  them  Jhould  appear 
before  the  Lord  empty  >  but  every  one  (  fays  the  Text  ) 
Jhall  give  as  he  is  able^  according  to  the  Eleffing  of  the  Lord 
thy  God  which  he  hath  given  thee.  \\ 

We  need  add  no  more  to  juftify  and  prefs  the  Pro- 
fofal  here  made.  We  give  our  Judgment  to  the  Churches 
for  publick  Collections  to  be  made  in  our  Affemblies  for 
the  Poor,  or  for  other  pious  Ufes,  as  every  Church  and 
Congregation  may  think  beft,  on  every  Day  of  General 
Fafting,w  nankfgiving  obferved  by  us.  We  wifh  that 
by  mutual  Confent  it  may  universally  come  into  Practice. 
We  hope  that  what  we  here  offer,  will  be  ferioufly 
weighed,  candidly  conftrued,  and  be  cordially  entertained 
by  the  beloved  Churches  of  Chrift  and  their  Rev.  Paftors, 
whom  we  falute  in  the  Lord,and  afk  their  Prayers  for  us." 

As  he  ever  exprefTed  high  an  Regard  for  the  Town  of 
Bofton  the  Place  of  his  Nativity  and  Refidence,  he  ac 
cordingly  fought  its  Welfare  and  Flourishing  conti 
nually. 

He  ufed  his  bed  Endeavours  that  Peace  with  Truth 
and  Holinefs  might  be  and  abide  in  the  Churches  ;  and 
an  happy  Union  fublift  among  the  Paftors  ;  and  in  his 
Turn  vifued  the  Schools,  and  encouraged  the  Youth  in 
Piety  and  Learning  both  by  Word  and  Writing..]-  He 

f  Phil.  iv.  17.  i  Cor.  x.  33.  *  Eilher  ix.  19,  22.  ||  Deut.  xvi. 
1 6,  17.  Exod.  xxiii.  15. 

.J.  Some  of  his  moving  Speeches  to  the  Scholars  are  found  by  us. 
He  often  gave  them  Hymns  of  his  own  competing  to  tranflate  into 
Latin.  The  Prijon  and  the  Alms  Houfe  he  alfo  frequently  miniftred 
unto,  by  his  Charities  and  Preaching. 

bore 


7f          flu  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

bore  an  open  Teftimony  againft  iuch  Things  in  the 
"Weekly  Prints  as  had  a  Tendency  to  mock  Religion,  and 
bring  it  into  Contempt,  particularly  a  vile  Paper  called 
the  Courant.  He  alfo  (hewed  his  Concern  for  what  he 
efteemed  the  Temporal  Intereft  of  the  Inhabitants. 

There  is  an  Efiay  of  his  printed  in  the  Year  1719, 
for  the  fetting  up  and  eftablifhing  a  Market,fairly  repre- 
fcnting  the  Conveniences  and  Advantages  thereof. 

He  greatly  encouraged  by  private  Converfation  the 
receiving  the  Small-Pox  by  the  fafe  and  eafy  Way  of  In 
oculation  ;  and  by  a  printed  Compofure  in  the  Year  1721 
entitled,  Some  Obfervations  on  the  new  Method  of  receiving 
the  Small  Pox  by  ingrafting  or  inoculating^  which  was  well 
accepted  by  many,  and  did  much  Good  both  here  and 
in  Great  Britain,  where  it  had  a  fecond  Tmprefllon.* 

He  alfo  wrote  and  publifhed  a  Letter  in  Vindication 
of  his  Friend  Z.  Boyljlon  F.  R.  S.  who  was  the  firft  and 
chief  Surgeon  that  performed  the  Operation,  and  had  fuf- 
fered  much  from  the  Tongues  and  Pens  of  fome  good 
as  well  as  many  bad  Men  that  oppofed  the  Practice. 

I  come  now  to  write  largely  of  Dr.  Coltnan's  ferving 
the  Publick,  his  Country,  and  the  Churches. 

He  was  employed  in  his  younger  as  well  as  later  Times 
by  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  the  Province,  and 
the  fevera!  diftincl  Branches  of  it  on  divers  weighty  Af 
fairs.  At  their  Defire  he  not  only  preached  and  printed 
once  and  again  on  grand  Occafions  U  but  alfo  draughted 
Letters  and  Addrefles  for  them  relating  to  publick  Mat 
ters  which  were  highly  approved.  Sometimes  he  has 

bee  a 

*  Dr,  Jui-en  the  learned  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Society,  gives  his 
Opinion  of  it  in  a  Letter  to  H,  Netuman,  Efq;  inthefe  Words,  "  One 
may,  I  think,  in  that  little  Tra&,  fee  the  Philofopher  and  Phyfician, 
gs  well  as  the  modeft  and  humble  Divine. 

||  Vi^.  A  Sermon  entitled  Imprecation  againft  the  Enemies  of  God, 
Pfalm  Ixviij,  |,  1707,  A  Sermon  on  the  UNION  of  the  two  King, 
doros,  England  and  Scotland  1708,  from  Pfalm  exxii,  6th,  7th,  8th,  9th 
Verfes. 

Eieftion 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  79 

been  engaged  for  them  in  fecret  Services  on  the  moft 
momentous  Concerns,  and  fucceeded  in  them.  We  have 
no  Minifter  now  left,  that  has  that  Intereft  and  Influence 
here  or  at  Home  which  he  feemed  to  have. 

I  find  by  many  Copies  left  that  he  wrote  freely  (but 
always  with  greateft  Complaifance  and  Humility  to  our  efc- 
cellent  Governors,  and  Agents  *  for  the  Province  ;  and  to 
the  leading  Members  in  both  Houfes,  of  our  Great  and 
General  Court,  from  Time  to  Time,  which  were  gene 
rally  well  accepted,  and  fometimes  did  eminent  Service. 
The  Governors  DUDLEY,  SHUTE,  BURNETT,  BELCHER 
expreft  the  higheft  Value  for  him,  and  his  Excellency 
our  prefent  Governor  will  not  be  offended  if  I  fay  he  has 
fhown  him  as  great  Regards. 

I  own  he  has  been  blamed  by  fome  (who  have  not 
turned  out  the  bed  Friends  to  their  Country)  for  inter 
meddling  at  all  with  civil  and  fecular  Matters.  But 
muft  a  Ferfon  who  knows  well  the  Intereft  of  his  Coun 
try,  and  is  capable  of  ferving  it,  and  faving  it  too  when 
finking,  be  filent  only  becaufe  he  is  a  Minifter  ?  Is  he 
nothing  elfe  ?  Is  he  not  a  Subject  of  his  Prince,  and  a 
Member  of  the  Commonwealth  ? — Mr.  Colman  was  full 
in  the  Sentiments  of  the  Rev.  Drs.  Increafe  and  Cotton 

Two  Eieciion  Sermons,  in  the  Year  1718  —  from  Neh.  v.  19.— 
And  in  the  Year  1723  another  from  i  Cbron  xxviii.  8. 

1719  The  Blefiing  of  Zebulon  and  JJ/acbar,  Deut. 

acxxiii.  18,  19  Verfes. 

A  Faft  Sermon  preach'd  in  the  Council  Chamber  1736  from  Zccb. 
yii.  8,  9. 

A  Sermon  entitled,  The  Lord  (hall  rejoice  in  hisWorks  1741  from 
Pfalm  civ.  31. 

Alfo,  Sermons  onTkomas  Ho/fis,  Efq;  and  Hon.  Samuel  Holdcn,  Efq; 
%vhich  will  be  taken  Notice  of  in  the  next  Chapter. 

*  He  held  a  long  and  ufeful  Correfpondence  with  Mr.  Agent 
Dutnmer,  Wilks,  &c. — And  wrote  many  a  Letter  which  he  never  fent 
fearing  left  he  mould  intermeddle  too  far  in  fome  Affairs  :  So  he  has 
written  on  the  Outfide  of  them.  He  exercifed  a  Jealoufy  over  him- 
felf,  and  was  a  great  Matter  of  Prudence,  if  that  be  a  true  Definition 
of  it,  which  fome  have  given,  viz.  Prudently  eft  dicendorum,  faciendo- 
rumque,  in  Juo  Loco  et  tempore  Jcientia* 


8o  tt*  LI  F  E  and  CHARACTER 


" 


his  Paftors  and  PredeceiTors  on  this  Head,  f  — 
Viz.  "  That  Opportunities  to  do  good  not  only  leg'ui- 
"  mate  the  Application  of  our  Capacities  to  do  it,  but 
"  alfo  oblige  and  require  us  to  do  it.  That  upon  pub- 

lick  and   prefling  Emergencies  Minifters  may  apply 

their  fuperior  Talents  to  fome  Things  of  fecular  Im- 
"  portance.  The  great  Selden  is  quoted  by  them  in 
"  Vindication  of  fuch  a  Pradice  —  'Tis  a  foolifh  Thing 
"  (fays  he,)  to  fay,  A  Minuter  muft  not  meddle  with  fe- 
"  cular  Matters  becaufe  his  own  Profeffion  will  take  up 
cc  his  whole  Man.  The  Meaning  is  only,  that  he  muft 
"  attend  his  Calling. 

,  I  hope  the  Country  will  be  fo  juft,  now  he  is  Dead, 
as  to  own  that  by  his  unwearied  Pains  and  EfTays  of  this 
Kind,  we  have  been  generally  and  greatly  ferved.  - 

His  Fathers  and  Brethren  in  the  facred  Miniftry  as  they 
highly  and  juftly  valued  Him  on  Account  of  his  many 
excellent  Endowments,  fo  they  particularly  difcerned  and 
diftinguifhed  hisfhining  Talent  in  draughting  Letters  and 
Addreffes  by  employing  it  on  various  Occafions.-  -  So 
long  ago  as  in  the  Year  1715  there  is  found  his  Draught 
of  an  Addrefs  to  our  Great  and  General  Court  about  cal 
ling  a  Synod.  -  In  the  fame  Year  an  Addrefs  to  his 
Majefty  King  GEORGE  the  Firft.  -  Two  more  in  the 
Year  1716.  -  Another  in  the  Year  1717.  -  Another 
in  the  Year  1727  -  Another  in  the  Year  1734.  —  — 
Another  in  the  Year  1737.-  - 

The  Addrefs  to  the  King  in  the  Year  1716  was  ac 
companied  with  Addreffes  to  divers  Lords,  Nobles,  Gen 
tlemen,  and  fome  eminent  DifTenting  Miniflersin  London, 
viz.  To  my  Lord  Chancellor  Cooper,  Lord  Chief  Juftice 
King,  Sir  William  dfhurft,  John  Earrington  Shute  Efq; 
The  Rev.  Meffirs.  Calamy,  Bradbury,  Reynolds,  Tong,  &c. 
&c.  To  which  Addreffes,  feveral  kind  and  gracious  An- 
fwers  were  returned  •,  and  a  ufeful  Correfpondence  en 
tered  into  by  him  with  fome  of  thefe  great  Men. 

f  Dr.  Increaje  Mather*  Life,  wrote  by  his  Son  Dr.  Cotton  Mather. 

The 


•    .ff,       e—         -t*i    r~»         t—  •"'»  ft         £ 

of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.'  8  I 

/        . 

The  Addrefs  fent  in  the  Year  1737  was  alfo  attended 
with  like  Applications  to  Noblemen,  Gentlemen,  and 
Divines  pleading  Favours  to  the  Province.  The  Right 
Honourable  Sir  Robert  Wai-pole,  His  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Newcaftle,  the  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  of  Harrington, 
the  Honourable  Samuel  Holden  Efq;  the  Rev.  Meffirs. 
Harris,  Watts^  Neal  and  Guife,  were  written  unto. 

A  few  of  thefe  Draughts  are  here  inferred,  viz. 

"  To  His  Excellency  Jofepb  Dudley,  Efq;  Captain 
General  and  Governour  in  Chief.  And  to  the  Great  and 
General  Court  or  Affembly  of  His  Majefty's  Province  of 
the  MaJfackufetts-Bay  ;  begun  and  held  at  Bofion  upon 
Wednefday  the  25th  of  May,  1715. 

The  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel  and  Paftors  of  the  Chur- 
"  ches  in  this  Province,-  convened  in  Boffon  on  the  25th 
and  26th  Days  of  this  Inftant  May,  having  taken  into 
their  ferious  Coniideration  the  State  of  Religion  among 
us,  and  of  the  Churches  under  their  Paftoral  Care  and 
Watch,  are  humbly  of  Opinion  that  it  is  a  Thing  highly 
expedient-and  neceffary,  fpeedily  to  convene  a  General 
Synod,  to  confider  what  Remedies  may  be  applied  un 
to  thefe  Evils  and  Diflempers,  whereby  our  Churches 
and  the  Power  of  Godlinefs,  among  us,  may  feem  En- 
« feebled  and  Endangered. 

It  is  a  Thing  well  known  that  our  pious  Fathers  and 
venerable  Predeceflbrs  held  their  Synodical  Meetings,  in 
laying  the  Foundation  of  their  Churches,  in  the  happy 
Fruits  whereof  we  rejoice  to  this  Day  :  And  we  cannoc 
but  apprehend  it  to  have  been  a  great  OmifTion  and 
faulty  Negledb  among  us  of  the  prefent  Generation,  the 
Blame  whereof  we  the  Minifters  of  Religion  muft  very 
much  take  upon  ourfelves,  that  we  have  for  fo  long  a 
Time  been  without  one  fuch  AfTembly  of  Chanty  by 
their  Paftors  and  Delegates  in  a  General  Synod:  Though 
it  has  been  the  acknowledged  Principle  as  well  as  Prac 
tice  of  thefe  Churches  from  the  beginning,  and  might 
«ver  be  their  Beauty,  Strength  and  Safety. 

That  we  may  therefore,  however  late,  anfwer  our  Ob- 
M  ligations 


fte  tt*  LIFE  ^CHARACTER 

ligations  to  God  and  to  thefe  dear  Churches  of  our  Lord 
Jefus  Chrid,  over  which  the  Holy  Ghoft  has  made  us 
Overfeers  •,  and  in  the  mod  effectual  manner  we  can  now 
propofe  to  do  our  Part  to  promote  a  godly  Reformation, 
and  the  Revival  of  true  Piety  through  the  Land  •,  and  be 
ing  defirous  to  enjoy  the  fulled  Opportunity  of  bearing 
our  Tedimony  to  the  Faith  and  Order  of  the  Gofpel  ; 
knowing  that  we  owe,  and  are  accountable  to  God  and 
to  the  World  how  we  difcharge  the  fame  Padoral 
Care  and  Duty  in  thefe  Refpecb  to  the  People  of  our 
own  Generation,  which  our  Fathers  did  in  their  Day  to 
a  Generation  of  far  lefs  abounding  Diforders,  Irreligion 
and  Immorality  ;  And  finally,  edeeming  ourfelves  called 
of  God  hereunto,  and  relying  humbly  on  the  fame  Pre- 
fence  of  the  Divine  Spirit  to  be  with  us  which  was  with 
them  : 

We  do  therefore  in  the  Name  of  the  Miniders  lately 
here  convened,  and  as  they  have  directed  us  to  do,  Jay 
before  your  Excellency  and  the  General  Aflembly  their 
Humble  Defire  and  Petition,  that  if  in  your  Wifdora 
you  fhall  think  fit,  you  would  pleafe  to  give  your  Coun 
tenance  and  Aflidance  in  all  the  proper  and  needful 
Ways  to  the  fpeedy  meeting  of  fuch  a  Synod,  and  to  fa- 
vour  it  with  that  paternal  Protection  which  our  Churches 
have  enjoyed  upon  fuch  Occafions  in  former  Times  from 
their  pious  Rulers. 

We  pray  God  to  fill  you  with  heavenly  Wifdom,  and 
grant  you  at  all  Times  his  gracious  Guidance  and  Lead 
ing,  and  are  among,  the  mod  Dutiful  and  Obedient  of 
your  People, 

Bofton,  May   27.   1715.'*  3^A 

"  To  the  King's  moft  Excellent  Majefty.' 
The  Humble  Memorial  of  his  Majefty*s  Loyal  and  Duti 
ful  Subjects,  the  Paftors  of  the  Churches  of  Chrift 
in  New-England,  humbly   Sheweth, 
That  having  had  the  Honour  lately  to  approach  the 
Throne  with  our  moft  humble  and  dutiful  Congratula 
tion 


Of    Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.  $3 

tlon  of  your  Majefty's  happy  AccefTion  thereto,  to  implore 
your  Majefty's  gracious  Protection  of  us  in  our  Religious 
Liberties ;  We  do  now  in  all  Humility  beg  leave  to  re- 
prefent  to  your  facred  Majefly  the  Conftitution  of  our 
Churches,  their  Rile,  Growth  and  prefent  State. 

We  are  in  Denomination,  and  fo  in  Principle  and 
Practice,  Difcipline  and  Worfhip,  Congregational  and 
Prelbyterian  •,  of  one  Body  with  the  Proteftant  Diffen- 
cers  from  the  Church  of  England  as  by  Law  eftablifhed 
in  Great-Britain,  commonly  known  by  the  Name  of 
United  Brethren  ;  and  like  them  we  have  fignalized  our 
Zeal  for  and  Adherence  to  the  Proteftant  Succefiion  in 
your  mod  ferene  and  illuftrious  Houfe. 

Our  Fathers  were  fome  of  the  Old  Puritans,  fo  called 
from  their  purer  Church  State,  and  Way  of  Worfhip 
and  Manner  of  godly  Difcipline,  which  in  their  Appre- 

henfion  they  fought  and  pradtifed.- 

They  were  People  of  exemplary  Devotion  towards 
God,  Loyalty  to  their  Prince,  and  of  confpicuous  Sobri 
ety,  Virtue  and  true  Goodnefs  in  the  Sight  of  all  Men. 

Uneafy  as  they  were  made  at  Home,  under  the  Im- 
pofition  of  fome  Things  which  they  efteemed  fmful  to 
comply  with  •,  the  Spirit  and  Providence  of  God  directed 
them  to  feek  and  find  fome  quiet  Seat  for  themfelves  and 
their  Pofterity  in  the  Defarts  of  America. 

Religion  was  their  Motive  and  their  Support  in  the 
forrovvful  Leave  they  took  of  their  pleafant  Native  Coun 
try,  •  they  parted  with  high  ExprefiSons  of  Affection 

and  Efteem  to  the  Church  of  England. 

They  chearfully  planted  and  fubdued  a  raft  Wildernefs 
at  their  own  Expence,  and  not  without  many  Hardfhips 
and  Hazards. 

They  obtained  Royal  Charters  to  encourage  their  Un 
dertakings,  and  to  remain  the  everlafting  Teftimonials 
of  their  Allegiance  to  the  Britim  Crown,  as  well  as  Bond* 
thereto. 

They  were  animated  with  a  Profpect  of  enlarging  the 
Empire  of  Grtat-Britaiv,  in  Regions  not  known  to  for 
mer  Ages.  But 


$4  tte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

But  to  their  immortal  Honour  it  mud  be  ever  remem* 
bred  and  recorded,  that  Religion  was  their  firft  and  chief 
Care,  and  in  order  to  that  Learning. 

In  this  they  have  been  fingular  and  eminent  among 
the  Plantations,  and  we  their  Poiterity  reap  the  Honour 
and  happy  Fruits  thereof. 

At  this  Day  through  the  BlefTmg  of  Heaven  on  us, we 
are  become  a  great  People,  fpreading  upwards  of  three 
hundred  Miles  along  the  Sea-Coafts,  and  from  thirty  to 
fifty  Miles  up  into  the  inland  Parts  of  the  Country 

to  the  Number   of Towns,   and   many   more   Wor- 

Ihipping  Congregations   and    Churches. 

At  the  Tame  Time  we  have  but  one  Tingle  Congrega* 
tion  among  us  of  the  Worfhip  of  the  Church  of  England -9 
who  are  treated  by  us  with  all  that  chriftian  Refpect,  and 
brotherly  Efteem  and  Regard  they  can  reafonably  expect 
and  tkfire.  ;n£* 

BcTides  inferiour  Schools  of  Literature  by  Law  en 
joined  in  every  Town,  forReading,  Writing  or  Grammar, 
we  have  two  Colleges  for  Academical  Learning,  where 
the  Languages  and  literal  Arts  and  Sciences  are  taught  ; 
and  whereby  our  many  Churches,  have  been  hitherto  more 
than  fupplied  with  Pallors,  and  the  higheft  Chairs  of  Ho 
nour  have  been  laudably  filled,  to  the  Service  of  the  Prince 
and  the  good  of  the  Country. 

In  thele  Academies  for  Liberal  Education,  nothing 
but  Learning  and  good  Morals  are  required  to  qualify 
any  Perfon  for  the  Privileges  there  to  be  attained,  but 
they  are  equally  diipenfed  unto  Perfonsof  all  Perfwafions. 

The  Principles  of  Loyalty,  as  well  as  Religion  in  all 
other  Inftances  of  it,  are  inftilled  in  our  Colleges  into 
our  Youth,  as  well  as  taught  in  our  Pulpits  •,  where  we 
never  omit  to  pray  alfofor  the  King  in  Supream,  and  for 
Governors  as  fent  by  Him. 

Nor  have  we  been  without  many  Endeavours,  laborious 
and  expenfive  for  theConverfion  of  the  Natives  to  Chrif- 
tianity.  The  Bible  has  been  tranQated  into  theirLanguage 
and  cwice  printed  ;  befides  other  good  Books  of  Piety 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N."  85 

and  Religion.  There  are  at  this  Day  above  thirty  Wor- 
ihipping  Congregations  of  the  Indians  among  us  :  who 
are  partly  taught  by  Englifh  Minifters  that  have  learned 
their  Language,  but  more  (latedly  by  Indian  Preachers  of 
their  own.  Some  Schools  alfo  there  are  among  them  for 
the  teaching  of  their  Children  to  Read  and  Write. 

To  add  no  more,  our  Churches  are  famous  for  their 
Zeal  for  the  true  Proteftant  Religion,  according  to  the 
Doctrinal  Articles  and  Homilies  of  the  Church  of  England ; 
and  have  been  excelled  by  none  in  the  Joy  of  feeing  thefe 
Divine  Truths  fecured  to  us  (as  we  truftj  in  your  Majefty's 
Poffeffion  of  the  Thrones  of  your  Anceflors. 

Moreover,  we  ought  gratefully  to  acknowledge  to  God 
and  the  King, 

That  we  have  been  diftinguifhed  among  the  Plantati 
ons  by  divers  Acts  of  the  Royal  Favour  and  Grace  to 
us  •,  particularly  in  the  Royal  Charter  granted  to  us  by 
the  late  glorious  Princes  of  immortal  Memory,  King 
WILLIAM  and  Queen  MARY  :  In  diverfe  of  which  ci 
vil  Rights  and  Privileges  therein  granted,  the  Vertue  and 
Morals  of  our  People  are  greatly  confulted  and  guarded; 
as  alfo  in  many  fubfequent  Laws  which  have  received  the 
Royal  Sanction  ;  and  by  which  we  enjoy  many  valuable 
religious  Liberties  as  well  as  civil  ;  Namely, 

The  Settlement  and  Support  of  Schools  in  our  Towns, 
and  of  Orthodox  Minifters  in  our  Churches  •,  the  Peo 
ple's  Right  of  electing  their  own  Minifters,  the  ftrict 
SancYifkation  of.  the  Sabbath,  and  the  planting  Religion 
in  fuch  Places,  where  People  profanely  defpife  to  feek  it 
for  themfelves. 

Our  Prayer  therefore  is  unto  the  King's  mod  excellent 
Majefty, 

That  this  our  Country  and  thefe  Churches  may  ever 
find  Grace  and  Favour  in  your  Royal  Eyes,  and  in  the 
Sight  Of  his  Royal  Highnefs  the  Prince  of  Wales^  and 
of  all  your  illuftrious  Race  ;  whom  God  continue  on  the 
Throne  of  your  Majefty  down  to  the  lateft  Pofterity. 

That  we  may  have  both  our  religious  Rights  and  Pri 
vileges* 


gS          fb*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

yileges,  as  well  as  civil  now  enjoyed  by  us,  continued  and 
fccured  to  us  and  to  our  Pofterity. 

That  his  Majefty  would  gracioufly  pleafe  to  believe 
concerning  us,  that  he  has  no  where  any  Subjects  more 
true  and  faithful,  dutiful  and  loyal,  and  who  will  more 
defire  to  deferve  his  Royal  Favour  than  his  New-EngliJb 
Churches. 

That  it  would  pleafe  his  Majefty  of  his  meer  Grace, 
and  as  his  Princely  Wifdom  and  Paternal  Tendernefs  to 
us  mall  ever  direct  him,  to  vouchfafe  to  confider  the 
Conftitution  of  our  Churches  in  the  Commiflions  from 
the  Throne  :  And  that  from  Time  to  Time  we  may 
have  Men  of  Virtue  and  Juftice,  fet  over  us  in  chief 
Command  ;  and  who  may  be  of  a  Spirit  of  Moderation, 
and  friendly  to  our  Churches. 

And  in  an  efpecial  Manner,  we  pray  that  our  Colleges 
which  God  has  made  the  fingular  Honour  and  Blefiing 
of  our  Country,  may  ever  have  your  Royal  Favour  and 
Protedion." 

JFiffMJ1  .*'i$r.-MU;:wm.  •;' 

"  To  my  Lord  Chancellor  Cooper. 

May  it  pleafe  your  Lordfhip, 

The  Fame  of  your  Lordlhip's  Juftice  and  Humanity 
has  long  fince  reached  thefe  diftant  Dominions  of  his 
Majefty  in  America.  The  Wifdom  and  Moderation  of 
that  glorious  Miniftry,  and  of  thofe  noble  Patriots,  a- 
mong  whom  your  Lordfhip  hath  fhone  fo  bright  in  the 
happy  Part  of  the  former  Reign,  as  well  as  fince  his 
Majefty's  Acceffion  to  the  Throne,  has  rendered  your 
Names  illuftrious  to  us,  as  they  are  like  to  be  tranfmitted 
down  to  Pofterity,  and  make  fome  of  the  brighteft  Pages 
in  Hiftory.  No  Wonder  therefore  that  we  are  ambiti 
ous  to  be  known  to  your  Lordfhip,  and  to  commend  our 
dear  Country  to  your  good  Opinion  and  Patronage  upon 
all  Occaiions. 

We  are  fome  of  the  Minifters  and  Paftors  of  the 
Churches  in  New-England,  and  as  in  Duty  bound  to  God 

and 


tf  Dr.    BENJAMIN    COLMAN.'  87 

and  our  People,  we  are  careful  to  preferve  as  far  as  in  us 
lies  our  Liberties  and  Privileges  civil  and  religious,  which 
by  the  Royal  Charter  to  us  granted,  and  many  fubfe- 
quent  Laws  we  do  enjoy.  Wherefore  we  preftime  to  in- 
clofe  to  your  Lordfhip  a  true  and  faithful  Account  of  the 
State  of  our  Country,  befeeching  your  Lordfhip  to  be- 
ftow  a  generous  Thought,  and  exprefs  a  kind  Concern 
for  a  loyal  and  dutiful  Province,  whenever  it  fhall  appear 
to  you  in  your  great  Wifdom  and  Juftice  to  need  your 
Regards. 

To  deferve  fo  great  a  Favour  of  your  Lordfhip,  we 
can  only  plead,  that  like  our  United  Brethren  the  Dif- 
ienters  in  Great-Britain,  we  have  fteadily  exprefTed  a  mofl 
dutiful  Zeal  and  Affeclion  to  the  Proteflant  SuccefTion, 
and  to  thofe  wife  and  faithful  Councils  which  your  Lord 
fhip  and  the  prefent  Miniftry  purfue,  with  fo  much  Glory 
to  the  King,  themfelves,  and  their  Country.  If  Duty, 
Loyalty  and  Affeciion  can  ever  merit  the  Sovereign's 
Favour  to  a  poor  People,  and  the  Regards  of  his  Mini- 
flers,  truly  we  are  bold  to  fay,  that  New-England  is  not 
unworthy  of  that  Intereft  in  your  Lordfhip's  noble  Heart 
which  we  afk  for. 

We  pray   God  to  have  your  Lordfhip  always  in  his 
gracious  Keeping,  and  to  prolong  your  Life  to  his  own 
Glory,  and  to  the  Honour  and  Safety  of  the  Kingdom, 
and  of  all  the  Britijh  Dominions.     And  as  we  fhall  never 
ceafe  to  pray  for  the  Life  of  the  King,  fo  neither  to  be 
Your  Lordfhips, 
Moft  humble, 

on  May  25;  Moft  obliged, 

1716,  and  obedient  Servants, 

Benjamin  Wadfworth,  Increase  Mather, 

Ebenezer  Pemberton,  Cotton  Mather, 

Benjamin   Colman,  John  Leverett, 

Peter  Yhacher,  William  Brattle, 

Jofeph  Sevan*  Nebemiab  Walter. 


To 


*8  the  LIFE    and  CHARACTER 

"  To  Sir  William 


Sir, 

The  noble  and  generous  Affe&ion  with  which  you 
have  always  honoured  New-  England,  is  not  to  be  enough 
acknowledged  by  the  bed  Words  that  we  can  chufe,  and 
we  trufl  that  a  grateful  Senfe  of  them  will  always  remain 
with  us. 

This  emboldens  us  to  afk  your  continued  Favours  at 
all  Times,  as  the  Interefts  of  our  Country  do  call  for 
your  Help. 

Thofe  Interefts  are  well  known  unto  your  Honour,  and 
particularly  our  Charter  that  invaluable  Privilege  of  the 
Province,  whereby  the  Morals  of  our  People,  as  well  as 
all  our  Eafe  and  Quietnefs  are  funder  God)  bed  fecured 
to  us. 

We  cannot  but  acknowledge  the  kind  Afiiftances  which 
your  Honour  afforded  unto  Mr.  Dummer  our  Agent, 
when  our  Charter  was  in  Danger  the  laft  Year  ;  and  we 
pray  God  to  reward  it  both  in  temporal  and  fpiritual 
Bleffings,  not  only  to  yourfclf,  but  alfo  to  your  flourifh- 
ing  Houfe. 

We  do  therefore  prefume  to  inclofe  to  yourfelf,  as  we 
do  alfo  by  this  Opportunity  to  fome  other  Perfons  of 
Honour,  a  true  and  faithful  Account  of  the  State  of 
our  Country,  which  if  it  may  further  engage  your  Friend- 
ihip  to  us,  we  fhall  hold  our  felves  greatly  obliged. 

May  you  long  live  the  Ornament  and  Delight  of  the 
City,  and  a  Blefiing  to  the  Kingdom. 

Your  Honour's 
2'imi  Mofl  obliged, 
Mod  humble 
V*  ^and  obedient  Servants, 

:  #**  Benjamin  Wadfwortb,     Increafe  Mather, 

£vl  '  Ebenezer  Pemberton,       Cotton  Mather  ', 
<?&\..  Benjamin  Colman,  John  Leverett, 

Peter  rbacher,  William  Brattle^ 

Jofeph  Scwall.  Nebemiab  Walter^ 

oT  To 


•if  Dr,  BEKJAMINCOLMA^  89 

"  To  John  Barrington  Shute,  Efq; 
Hon.  Sir, 

Our  worthy  Friends  and  Countrymen  now  at  London, 
have  informed  fome  of  us,  of  the  particular  Regards 
with  which  you  are  pleafed  to  honour  and  ready  to  lerve 
New-England. 

We  efteem  it  Sir,  a  great  Favour  of  God  unto  us  that 
he  has  raifed  up  fuch  a  Friend  in  the  Britifh  Parliament, 
more  efpecially  in  fuch  a  critical  Juncture  as  the  Seflions 
of  the  laft  Year,  when  a  Bill  was  brought  in  to  take  away 
our  Charters.  Whatever  Kindnefs  and  Juftice  you  then 
did  us,  believe  it,  Sir,  that  God  will  reward  it  to  you  ; 
and  you  have  the  Prayers  and  BlefTmg  of  a  pious  and 
grateful  People  in  Return  for  theGoodnefs  mown  to  them. 
We  are  fome  of  the  Minifters  of  Chrift  in  and  about 
Bofton  in  New-England,  and  have  prefumed  as  to  tender 
you  our  Acknowledgments  of  the  great  Benefits  you 
have  fo  generoufly  done  us,  fo  to  inclofe  to  you  a  true 
and  faithful  Account  of  the  State  of  our  Country,  and 
to  intreat  the  Continuance  of  your  Favour  to  us  ;  which 
will  engage  our  utmoft  Efteem  and  Gratitude,  and  toge 
ther  with  our  Thankfgivings  to  God,  the  rnoft  fervent 
Prayers  of,  Sir, 

Your  mod  obliged, 
Bqfton,  May  Moft  humble, 

25.  1716.  and  obedient  Servants, 

Benjamin  Wadfworth,     Increafe  Mather  9 
Ebenezer  Pemberton,      Cotton  Mather , 
Benjamin  Colman9  John  Leverett, 

Peter  Tkacber,  William  Brattle, 

Jofeph  SewalL  Nehemiah  Walter., 

"  To  my  Lord  Chief  Juftice  King. 
May  it  pleafe  your  Lordfhip, 

We  are  led  by  the  Fame  of  your  Lordlhip's  Juftice 
and  Goodnefs,  to  addrefsyou  in  Behalf  of  our  dear  Coun 
try,  which  we  may  humbly  fay  is  worthy  of  that  Intereft 
we  aik  for  it  in  your  Lordlhip's  generous  and  noble 
N  Heart, 


50  fbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Heart,  if  Loyalty,  Zeal  and  Affe&ion  to  his  Majefty's 
Reign  can  render  any  People  fo. 

We  are  far  from  the  Throne,  and  need  to  (land  right 
in  the  good  Opinion  of  thofe  noble  Patriots,  and  high 
Minifters  who  have  the  Honour  to  be  near  it,  that  if  our 
Charter  Privileges  fhould  be  in  Danger  as  they  lately 
were  to  our  great  Surprize,  we  might  have  fome  kind  and 
powerful  Proteftor,  to  do  us  Juftice  with  the  Govern 
ment,  and  obtain  the  Continuance  of  the  Royal  Favour 
and  Grace  to  us. 

Indeed  the  Goodnefs  and  Humanity  which  may  be 
thus  fhown  to  a  poor  People  upon  our  humble  Intercef- 
lion,  may  be  never  recompenfed  by  them  on  Earth  ;  but 
there  is  a  God  in  Heaven  who  fees  it,  and  will  reward  it 
to  your  Lordfhip.  He  raifes  up  noble  Perfons  to  be  Be 
nefactors  to  Mankind,  and  likAhe  fuperiorOrbs  of  Light 
to  difpenfe  their  benign  Influences  to  the  mod  diftant 
Regions. 

We  humbly  therefore  beg  Leave  to  inclofe  unto  your 
Lordfhip,  a  true  and  faithful  Account  of  the  State  of  our 
Country r  and  befeech  you  fo  far  to  give  it  a  Place  in  your 
Mind,  as  that  we  may  always  enjoy  your  Lordfhip's  Fa 
vour,  in  all  that  appears  juft  to  you. 

We  pray  God  your  Lordfhip  may  long  live  to  adorn 
the  high  Seat  of  Juftice  which  you  fill,  to  advance  the 
Honour  of  the  Reign  of  the  beft  of  Kings,  and  at  laft 
that  you  may  receive  that  Crown  of  Life,  which  God; 
the  righteous  Judge  will  give.  We  are,. 

My  Lord, 

Your  Lord  mips, 

Bofton^  May  Mod  humble, 

25.  17*6.  and  moft  obedient  Servants," 

Benjamin  Wadfworth^     Increase  Mather „ 
Ebeneztr  P  ember  ton,      Cotton  Mather ', 
Benjamin  Colman±  John  Leverett, 

Peter  Tbacber,  William  Brattle, 

Jofepb  Sewall.  Nebemiah  Walter, 

Mnifters  of  Chrift  in  and  about  Bofton  inNew- England** 

A 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  W^  9  J 

A  Letter  which  in  feveral  Copies  was  fent  to  Dr.  Ca~ 
lamy,  Mr.  Bradbury,  Mr.  Reynolds,  Mr.  'Tong,  &c. 

"  Rev.  Sir, 

We  have  a  great  deal  of  Reafon  to  believe  that  you 
will  be  ready  to  ferve  the  Churches  of  our  Lord  Jefus 
here  in  New-England  :  They  have  many  Enemies  who 
are  continually  ftriking  at  our  civil  and  religious  Liberties. 
Very  lately  the  Charter  of  our  Province  was  threatned 
by  a  Bill  in  Parliament,  and  in  great  Danger  of  being 
taken  away.  This  Attempt  has  made  us  fenfible,  that 
we  need  fomeftanding  Friends  in  and  about  London,  who 
will  naturally  care  for  us  on  like  Emergencies,  and  gene- 
roufly  ufe  their  Intereft  on  our  Behalf. 

Sir,  the  Character  we  have  of  yourfelf  puts  you  among 
the  Number  of  thofe,  in  whom  we  may  find  Ability  as 
well  as  Inclination  to  ferve  us.  Wherefore  we  have  ta 
ken  Leave  to  inclofe  to  you  a  true  and  faithful  Account 
of  the  State  of  our  Country,  and  do  entreat  together  with 
your  continual  Prayers  for  us,  that  you  will  ufe  your 
beft  Endeavours  to  ferve  us  as  there  may  be  Occafion. 

We  have  by  this  Opportunity  written  to  the  Lord 
Chancellor  Cooper,  Sir  Peter  King,  Sir  William  Stfburft^ 
and  John  Barrington  Shute,  Efq-,  to  intreat  their  Favour 
and  Intereft  for  us.  In  any  of  our  Neceffities,  we  hope 
our  Friends  may  apply  to  thofe  Noblemen  and  Gentlemen 
with  Succefs  in  our  Behalf. 

Sir,  We  are  your  Brethren  in  the  Miniftry  of  the  Lord 
Jefus,  a  few  of  the  Paftors  in  and  about  Bofton.  We  ever 
remember  you  in  our  Prayers,  fympathize  with  you  in 
all  that  is  grievous  and  afflictive  to  you,  and  joy  in  all 
your  Comforts.  We  deeply  condole  with  you  on  the 
Death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Williams,  Mr.  Henry,  and  Mr. 
Shower  the  Jaft  Year  ;  but  we  cannot  but  rejoice  to  fee 
the  worthy  Labours  of  fo  many  in  the  riling  Miniftry 
with  you.  Alfo  we  rejoice  that  in  this  Time  of  open 
Mutiny  and  Tumult,  Treafon  and  Rebellion,  the  Meek- 
nefs  and  Patience  of  the  DiiTenters  have  been  as  exem 
plary 


52          ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

plary  in  the  one  Cafe,  as  their  Loyalty  and  Zeal  for  the 
Proteftant  Succeffion,  has  been  illuftrious  on  the  other. 
We  hope  the  Government  will  be  inclined  and  able  t» 
acknowledge  fo  confpicuous  Merit. 

Sir,  We  pray  God  to  profper  your  Miniftry,  and  fpare 
you  Jong  to  ferve  to  his  Glory,  and  are 

Your  Brethren  in  the  Faith, 

and  Feilowlhip  of  the  GofpeJ, 
Rcfton,  May 

25.1716.  Jncreafe  Mather, 

Ebenezer  Pemlerton,     Cotton  Mather, 
Benjamin  Colman,         John  Leverett, 
Peter  Thacher,  William  Brattle, 

Jofeph  Sevoall.  Nehemiah  Walter, 

Benjamin  Wadfwortb, 

An  additional  Letter  affixed  to  the  feveral  Copies  of  that 
fpregoing. 

"  Rev.  Sir, 

Having  feen  the  Above,  written  from  the  Rev.  Ml* 
nifters  unto  you,  we  are  glad  to  fee  their  prudent  and 
faithful  Care,  under  the  Favour  of  Providence  to  procure 
the  Friendfhrp  and  Patronage  of  worthy  Perfons  for  our 
Churches  ;  and  we  da  heartily  join  with  them  in 
reqnefting  your  Favour  and  good  Offices  for  New- 
England. 

Some  of  us  have  the  Honour  to  be  of  his  Majefty's 
Council  for  the  Province,  but  all  of  us  we  hope  have 
a  greater  Honour  to  value  our  felves  on,  Namely^ 
That  we  are  true  Lovers  of  our  Country,  and  have  a 
fmcere  Zeal  for  its  beft  Interefts  Civil  and  Reli 


gious, 

So  far,  Sir,  as  you  can  ferve  thefe,  we  hope  our 
blefled  Saviour,  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  will 
accept  it  as  a  Service  of  Love  to  his  Name,  and 
the  Prayers  of  an  obliged,  grateful  People  will  come 
you. 

Sir, 


of  Dr.  B  E  N  J"A  M  i  N  C o  L  M  A  KN  93 

Sir,  We  afk  an  Intereft  in  your  Prayers,  and 
are 

Bojlon,  Your  .moft  humble  Servants, 

May  25,  1716. 

John  Higginfon,         Walt  Winthrop, 
Andrew  Belcher,        Elijha  Hutcbinfon, 
Nathaniel  Norden,     Samuel  Sewall, 
Samuel  Browne,         Eliakim  Hutchinfon9 
Thomas  Hutchinfon.  Penn  Townfend, 

«'  To   His  Moft  Excellent  Majefty  King  GEORGE  the 

Second. 

The  humble  Addrefs  of  his  Majefty's  loyal  and  dutiful 
Subjects,  the  Minifters  of  Chrift  and  Pallors  of  the 
Churches  in  his  Majefty's  Province  of  the  Maffachu- 
fetts-Bay  in  New -England,  at  their  Convention  in  Sof 
ten,  May  the  29th,  1734. 
Moft  Gracious  Sovereign, 

The  Fame  of  the  happy  Nuptials  of  the  Princefs- 
Royal  of  Great-Britain,  with  his  Serene  Highnefs  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  together  with  the  univerfal  Joy  of  the 
Nation,  teftified  in  their  Addreffes  to  the  Throne  on  this 
Occafion  ;  as  alfo  the  very  gracious  Acceptance  which 
the  Addreffes  of  the  Proteftant  DifTenting  Minifters,  our 
united  Brethren,  have  found  with  your  Majefty,  with 
your  Royal  Confort  the  Queen,  and  with  their  Serene 
Highneffes  the  Prmceand  Princefs  of  Orange,  encourages 
us  alfo  in  thefe  diftant  Parts  of  your  Majtfty's  Domini 
ons,  to  make  the  moft  early  Reprefenration  we  can,  of 
our  Share  in  the  common  Joys  of  the  Royal  Family,  and 
of  all  your  faithful  Subjects  in  every  Part  of  the  Britilh 
Empire.  It  gives  us  a  moft  pleafing  Remembrance  of 
the  inexpreffible  Joy  of  our  Fathers,  in  the  Day  of  the 
Nation's  Deliverance  from  Popery  and  Slavery,  by  the 
ever  glorious  Prince  of  Orange,  afterwards  our  rightful 
and  gracious  Sovereign,  King  William  the  Third  •,  which 
was  never  equalled  among  us,  but  only  in  the  Day  of  the 
Acceflion  of  your  Majefty's  moft  Illuftrious  Proteftant 

Houfe 


94  n*  LIVE  and  CHARACTER 

Houfe  to  the  Throne  over  us,  and  now  in  the  numerouj 
Progeny  of  Princes,  with  which  it  has  pleafed  God  to 
blefs  your  Majefty  and  your  Dominions,  and  that  we  fee 
the  Princefs  Royal  wedded  to  another  Prince  of  Orange. 
That  the  mod  Serene  Houfe  of  Najfau  may  for  ever 
fliine  in  the  Perfonsand  Pofterity  of  their  prefent  High- 
neffes,  as  it  has  always  done  in  their  glorious  Anceftors, 
from  the  firft  Reformation  from  Popery  ;  and  that  the 
Life  of  your  Majefty  and  the  Queen  may  be  prolonged 
to  fee  the  Childrens  Children  of  this,  and  other  like  happy 
Marriages  of  all  the  Royal  Iflue,  to  proteftant  Princes,  to 
the  equal  Joy  of  all  your  Dominions,  is  our  ardent  Prayer, 
and  our  pleafing  Hope. 

We  alfo  befeech  your  Majefty  to  permit  us  to  lay  at 
your  Royal  Feet,  our  humble  Acknowledgments  of  the 
many  Bleflings  which  your  Majefty's  Subjects  of  this 
Province  enjoy  under  your  aufpicious  Reign  •,  and  in  a 
very  particular  Manner  we  crave  Leave  to  mention  this 
one  diftinguifhing  Act  of  the  Royal  Favour  and  Grace 
to  us,  that  it  has  pleafed  your  Majefty  to  fill  the  referv- 
ed  Pofts  of  Government,  with  Gentlemen  the  Sons  of 
the  Province,  who  have  at  Heart  all  the  Rights  of  your 
Majefty's  Honour,  and  thofe  alfo  of  your  happy  Subjects 
here,  both  Religious  and  Civil  :  This,  if  it  were  pofii- 
ble,  would  add  to  our  facred  Bonds,  and  fervent  Inclina 
tions,  ever  to  approve  ourfelves, 

May  it  pleafe  your  Majefty, 
Your  Majefty's  moft  dutiful 

and  loyal  Subjeds. 

In  the  Name  of    the   Paftors  or  Teaching  Elders 
prefent, 

.  Peter  Tbacher,  Moderator.'* 


It  will  I  think  be  granted,  that  he  was  equal  to 
any  of  the  Sons  of  New-England  in  his  ardent  Love  and 
Affection  to,  and  his  affiduous  Care  for,  thefe  Churches 
of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift.  No  one  ferved  them  with 
greater  Pleafure.  He  did  his  utmoft  to  render  them 

beautiful 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN^  95 

faautiful  as  Tirza,  comely  as  Jerufalem,  and  terrible  as  an 
Army  with  Banners.^ 

It  appears  by  many  rough  Copies  of  Letters  left,  and 
the  Anfwers  to  them,  how  indefatigable  and  fuccefsful  an 
Inftrument  he  was  in  the  Hand  of  the  great  Lord  of  the 
Church  in  compromifing>  Differences,  healing  Divifions, 
and  quenching  Fires  kindling  and  flaming  among  Parties, 
Paftors  and  Brethren.  For  the  Maintenance  and  Refto- 
ration  of  Peace  with  Truth  and  Holinefs,  he  wrote  and 
ftnt  vaft  Numbers  of  Letters  to  New-York  and  the  Jer- 
Jlesy  to  Connecticut^  Rhode-Ifland,  Pi  feat  aqua,  and  to  many 
Churches  and  Paftors  in  the  Maffachufetts  Bay,  all  truly 
Apoftolick,  pleading  for  and  breathing  forth  Love  and 
Charity. — A  Collection  of  them  fhould  be  here  publifh- 
ed  to  render  his  Character  illuftrious  if  it  could  be  done 
without  expofing  oppofite  Characters  ;  and  reviving  the 
Memory  of  fuch  Strifes  and  Animofuies  which  had  better 
be  buried  and  forgotten,  and  are  therefore  omitted. 

Notwithftanding  his  tender  Conftitution  and  often  In 
firmities.,  he  went  abroad  to  Councils  or  Synods^  to  fet 
Things  in  Order  in  the  Churches  :  And  in  his  latterDays 
(in  fome  RefpectsJ  the  Care  of  all  the  Churches  came 
upon  him  as  you  will  fee  anon. 

And  as  he  early  ihewed  a  catholick  and  pacifick  Spirit 
(as  has  been  already  noted)  itincreafed  in  him  as  he  grew 
in  Years  and  Experience. — He  ever  expreft  an  utter  Dif- 
like  of  that  narrow  Spirit  of  Bigotry,  which  he  faw  pre 
vailing  in  two  many  of  the  greateft  and  beft  Men  of  all 
Sects  and  Perfwafions  in  pad  Ages  and  the  prefent. — He 
was  for  extending  his  Charity  and  holding  Communion 
with  all  that  held  the  Foundation.  He  loved  and  hon 
oured  good  Men  of  every  Denomination  how  much  fo- 
cver  they  differed  from  him  in  fome  pecujrar  Sentiments, 
Circumstantials  and  Modalities. 

His  Moderation  and  Readinefs  to  facrifice  every  Thing 
but  Truth  and  Duty  for  Peace,  was  manifefted  by  many 


f  Cant.  vi.  4. 

Inftancesr 


96  7&L1FE  ^CHARACTER 


,  both  m  his  younger  and  later  Times.  —  Indeed 
he  had  fuch  an  Averfion  to  Difputing  and  Jangling  that 
he  declined  engaging  in  Controverfy  as  much  as  poffible. 

I  have  often  heard  that  when  a  Seventh  Day  Baptift 
Preacher  (a  noify  Creature)  came  from  a  neighbouring 
Colony  to  difpute  with  him  about  the  Sabbath  •,  after  Dr. 
Colman  had  heard  all  his  Objections  patiently,  and  anfwer- 
cd  them  mildly,  and  the  Blade  would  go  on  fiercely  dif- 
pnting  he  told  him  he  had  no  more  to  fay  to  him,  but  if 
he  was  minded  further  to  indulge  his  difputacious  Hu 
mour,  he  would  direct  him  to  a  Perfon  in  Town  that 
would  be  a  Match  for  him,  which  he  accordingly  did,  and 
fo  difmifled  him. 

Here  it  may  be  remarked,  "  That  Dr.  Colwan's  No 
tions  of  Church-Government  and  Difcipline  were  larger 
than  many  of  his  Brethren's  \  neither  had  he  any  Opi 
nion  of  an  exaded  Uniformity  in  religious  Adminiftra- 
tions.f 

And  while  he  entertained  (and  on  all  Occafions  ex- 
preft)  the  higheft  Efteem  and  Veneration  for  the  primi 
tive  Fathers  of  New-  England  and  their  Writings,  he 
would  pleafantly  fay,  "  That  the  Bible  was  his  Plat- 
*  form.99  *  No  particular  Conftitution  hitherto  publifh- 
cd  (by  whatever  Authority  or  Pretence)  appeared  to  him 
to  be  Jure  Divino.  The  bed  were  in  his  Eye  either  de 
ficient  or  redundant.  j|  In  one  of  his  late  Letters  to  a 
Reverend  Affociation,  he  fays,  "  I  have  always  openly 
ie  owned  my  felf  fomething  of  a  Prejbyterian  under  our 
"  Congregational  Form,  and  my  People  freely  allowed 
"  me  my  Latitude,  and  fometimes  pleafantly  told  me 

f  See  the  Preface  to  his  Sermon  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  William  Cooper's 
Ordination. 

*  By  this  he  did  not  mean  to  condemn  Platforms  of  Church  -Difci 
pline  —  or  to  ftrain  that  excellent  Saying  too  far,  Scriptura  eft  Adequate 
Agendorum  Regula. 

(!  He  could  join  with  him,  who  wrote  thus  on  a  Blank  Leaf  of  his 
Bible, 

Units   Apex  Verliy   Rations   Valentior  omni9 
?   Decrttis,    Conciliifqut  prior  % 

"  that 


I 

of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.'  97 

"  that  they  thought  me  the  mod  cautious  of  anyt  Paftor 
ct  in  the  Town  or  Land,  not  to  break,  in  upon  the 
"  Rights  of  the  Brethren." 

A  few  of  his  Sentiments  concerning  Councils  or  Synods 
and  other  Ecclefiaftical  Affairs  and  Tranfa&ions  are  here 
offered  to  the  publick  View,  not  with  the  kaft  Defign 
to  reflect  on  our  excellent.  Conftitution  (which  yet  I  hum 
bly  apprehend  may  in  many  Particulars  be  mended)  nor 
to  manifeft  the  Publimer's  Concurrence,  who  does  not  a- 
dopt  every  Article  or  Paragraph  in  them,  but  to  fliow 
the  Author,  and  his  diftinguifhing  Lineaments  ,f. 

On  Councils  and  their  Efficacy* 
The  Efficacy  of  bur  Councils  depends  much  on  their 
having  a  due  Conftitution  ;  if  we  complain  of  the  Want 
of  their  Efficacy,  we  had  beft  fearch  into  their  Conftitu- 
tion,  if  that  be  weak  and  defective,  how  fhould  Govern 
ment  be  built  upon  it  ? 

Councils,  or  fomewhat  equivalent  to  that  Name,  are 
neceffary  to  the  Prefervation  of  Peace,  Order,  and  Purity 
in  the  Churches.  Experience  mows  us,  that  the  Cor 
ruptions  of  Men  will  be  breaking  out,  and  that  it  is  a 
Thing  of.  great  Difficulty  to  heal  the  Wounds  given  to 
particular  Churches  by  them.  We  have  found  alfo  both 
the  Confufion  and  Impoffibility  of  every  particular  Con 
gregation's  governing  all  Things  within  it  felf,  indepen 
dently  on  other  Churches.  So  that  there  muft  be  fome- 
thing  of  the  Nature  of  a  Council  of  Churches  for  pri 
vate  Chriftians,  or  particular  Churches  to  refer  themfelves 
to  for  Advice,  or  Appeal  unto  for  their  Judgment. 

It  was  foon  feen  in  the  Church,  that  fuch  Cafes  and 
Occafions  were  and  would  be,  and  we  read  in  the  xvth 
of  dfts^  That  the  Apoftles  and  Elders  came  together  to 
confider  of  the  Matter  referred  to  them,  and  difputed 
and  determined  it.  This  is  a  fufficient  Warrant  for  the 


f  As  I  propofed  in  the  Introdudion. 
*  Wrote  in  his  younger  "Times. 

O  Thing 


9$          the  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Thing,  that  there  fhould  be  Councils  convened  upon 
Difficulties  arifing  in  Churches  ;  but  I  cannot  find  any 
particular  Direction  here  given,  or  defigned  to  be  here 
given  by  the  Holy  Ghofr,juft  how  Councils  fhould  be 
conftituted  for  ever  after  in  all  the  Churches,  and  no  other- 
wife.  For  I  do  not  exactly  fee  how  this  was  :  Yet  the 
Thing  it  felf  is-  of  Apoftolical  Practice  ;  and  as  it  is  con- 
fonanc  to  our  Reafon,  fo  furely  it  fhould  be  looked  upon 
as  Scripture- Warrant  and  Direction  to  us  in  like  Cafes.  '•' 
And  now  I  fhall  write  my  poor  Thoughts  about  the 
due  Conftittuion  of  Councils,  that  they  may  have  the  de- 
lired  Efficacy  ;  and  I  freely  confefs  I  do  not  fee  what 
much  fhort  of  the  Practice  of  the  French  and  Scatcb 
Churches  will  be  fufficient,  nor  what  beyond  them  is 
necefTary. 

1.  I  think  there  fhould  in  every  particular  Church  be 
formed  and    fixed,  a  Confiftory,  as  the   French  Churches 
had,  or  a   Kirk  Seffion  as  the   Churches  of  Scotland,  to 
have  the  Government   of  it  in  all  Things.     This  is  to 
confift  of  the  Paftor,  the  perpetual  Prefident,  ex  Officio^ 
and  therefore  not  cenfurable  here,  and  with  him  a  felect 
Number  of  Elders,  Men  of  the  greateft  Piety,  Gravity, 
"Wifdom,  and  Authority  in  the  Congregation.     We  find 
ibmething  equivalent  to  this  necefiary   in   our   popular 
Form   of  Government,  commonly   having  a   kind   of 
Church   within  a  Church,  leading   Men  whom  we  pri 
vately  confult,  before  we   offer  any  Thing  to  a  publick 
Debate  and  Vote.     Which  mows  it  to  be  our  common 
Senfe,  that  the  whole  Government  would  be  better  there. 

2.  Out  of  thefe  Seflions  or  Confiftories  I  think  Coun 
cils  fhould  be  always  gathered. 

The  Reafon  is,  Becaufe  that  the  Government  of  par 
ticular  Churches  is  lodged  here,  which  fuppofes  them  to 
be  the  moft  accomplished  to  advife  or  judge  in  any  Ec- 
clefiaftical  Cafe* 

3.  The  Paftors  are  ex  Officio  of  thefe  Councils,  and  of 
the  Seniors  only  one  fhould  be  delegated  from  the  Con- 
fiftory  to  accompany  the  Paftor  :   And  if  the  Elders  of 

the 


Of    Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  H.  $  J 

the  feveral  Confiftories  fliould  not  attend,  though  their 
Neglect  is  cenfurable,  yet  then  the  Mi  aiders  alone  may 
warrantably  proceed  without  them. 

The  Reafons  why  I  am  for  only  one  Elder  to  be  de 
puted  with  a  Paflor  to  the  Council,  are, 

(1)  Or  elie  theMiniftry  there  have  not  an  equal  Vote, 
though  Government  is  confeffedly  firft  lodged  in    them, 
and   they  may  be  modeftly  fuppofed  to  be  their  Superiors 
in  Knowledge  and  Grace. 

(2)  A  Multitude  of  MefTengers  may  be  ufed  as  Crea 
tures  by  a  defigning  leading  Perfon. 

(3)  One  rich  and  large  Church  may  elfe  fend  a  Majo 
rity  to  all  the  reft,  if  the  Number  of  Meflengers  be  not 
limited. 

(4)  It  was  exprefly  the  very  firft  Canon  of  the  French 
Churches,  refpecting  their  fixed  Councils,   or  Colloquies, 
"  That  Minifters  mould  be  accompanied  each  of  thera 
with  an  Elder  from  every  Church.     The  Scotch  alfo  re 
quire  only  the  Attendance  of  one  ruling  Elder  from  each 
Congregation  at  their  Prefbyteries.* 

4.  Thefe  Councils  I  would  have  to  be  known,  ftated, 
and   fixed  in   the  Nature  of  the  French   Colloquies  and 


*  I  heartily  wifh  this  Prefbyterian  Article,  f.  e.  fo  far  as  it  refpe&s 
the  fending  of  but  one  Meffenger  to  Councils,  with  the  Reafons  under 
it,  might  be  duly  confidered  and  weighed  by  my  Rev.  Brethren,  and 
the  honoured  Churches  througkthe  Land.  Is  it  not  high  Time  that 
our  Congregational  Scheme  was  mended  in  this  Point  :  And  that  the 
Liberty  given  in  the  Letters  Miffive,  and  taken  by  the  Churches  call 
ed  to  aflift  in  Ecclefiaftical  Councils  mould  be  fomewhat  bounded  ?  I 
have  obferved  for  more  than  Twenty  Years  (and  who  has  not  I)  the 
Confufione  and  Mifchiefs  arifmg  from  our  prefent  Practice  :  Some 
Churches  fend  One,  others  Five,  others  Ten  or  more,  to  the  fame 
Council,  and  the  Vote  of  every  Member  is  of  equal  Weight. 

All  I  move  for  with  any  Zeal  is — "  That  there  be  fome  Regula 
tion  of  this  Matter — Let  all  be  limited  to  the  fame  Number — If  the 
Brethren  are  jealous  of  their  Paftors,  why  may  not  two  Brethren  be 
thought  enough  to  lend  with  one  Paftor  ?  It  cannot  be  taken  amifs 
by  any  for  the  Paftors  to  agree  at  their  annual  Convention  to  propofc 
Something  on  this  Head  to  their  Churches.  I  humbly  move  it  may 
be  done. 

Claffev 


ioo          ?b*  LIFEs^CHARACTER 

Gaffes,  or  the  Scotcb  Prefbyteries  •,  nor  matters  it  which 
Name  be  given  to  them  :  Confiding  of  Ten  or  Twelve 
neighbouring  Churches,  to  meet  fo  many  Times  a  Year 
at  a  certain  Place,  where  they  may  be  applied  to  if  Need 
be  :  Or  on  extraordinary  Occafions  may  be  called  toge 
ther  at  a-  Week's  Warning  by  the  Moderator  ;  which 
Call  all  the  Members  fhall  be  obliged  to  obey  and  attend. 
The  Reafons  why  they  mould  be  (landing  and  fixed  are, 

(1)  That  all  the  Churches  may  know  whither  to  repair 
for  Advice   or  Judgment,  and  who  are   their  Judges   if 
they  tranfgrefs. 

(2)  It  may    redeem    much  Time,  and    ftifje  many   a 
Fire  which  would  not  break  out,  if  it  did  not  lie  fo  Jong 
a  glowing. 

•     (3)  It  will  give  all  Minifters   and  Churches  an  equal 
Honour,  and  not  qndue  Preheminence  to  any. 

(4.)  It  will  prevenf  the  Confufion  and  Diibrder  of  Par 
ty-making  and  Prejudices,  againft  one  Church,  and  for 
another. 

5.  Thefe  (landing  Councils,  Gaffes   or  Prefbyteries 
fhould  be  divided   by  Authority  of  a  provincial  Synod  ; 
and  then  (  if  it  might  be  )  confirmed  by  the  Civil   Au 
thority. 

The  Reafons  are, 

(1)  Councils  will  aft  with  the  more  Freedom,  Boldneis 
and  Authority,   and  command  the  more  Reverence  and 
Regard  among  the  People. 

(2)  The  bare  Agreement  of  Churches  among  thern- 
felves  is  an  uncertain  and   weak  Bottom   to  go  on,  and 
more  eafily  broken  in  upon  by  him  that  lifts. 

(3)  The  Countenance  of  Civil  Authority  honours  the 
Miniftry   and   Difcipline  of  the  Church   to  the  World, 
and  is  (  humanely  fpeaking )  greatly  for  the  Security  of 
both. 

6.  The  feveral   Confiftories  fhall  be   accountable  to 
their  refpective  Gaffes  or  Council,  and  Minifters  thern- 
felves  are  cenfurable  here  y  and  Proceffes  againft  them  to 
begin  here.     Cafes  which  the  Confiftory  cannot  end,  or 

/.Q  ' 


'  if  Dr.  BENJAMIN  QO'L  M  A  *."  101 

t  "which  fall  not  under  their  Decifion,  fhali  be  -brought' hi 
ther  by  Way  of  Reference,  Appeal,  or  Complaint :  And 
if  the  Claffes  pleafe  they  may  fend  for  and  examine  the 
Regifter  of  every  Confiftory. 

7.  But    it  (hall  not  be    left  to   the  Choice  of   any 
Church, Confiftory  or  aggrieved  Party  to  have  a  particular 
fpecial  Council  of  Churches  of  their  own  picking  here  and 
there  ;  but  every  Gaffes  or  Prefbytery  (hall  have  the  In- 
fpedion  and  judging   of  all  and  every  particular  Church 
•within  their  own  DiftricT:  :  And   it  mall  be  diforderly  to 
leave  one  of  thofe  Churches  uncall'd,  or  to  call  in   another 
of  a  neighbouring  Prefbytery. 

The  Reafons  are, 

(1)  The  Honour  of  the  particular  Prefbyteries   forbid 
k,  for  they  arq  not  to  affume  one  over  another. 

(2)  The  Hpnour  of  particular  Churches  forbid  it  alfo, 
it  being  a  Difrtfpect  to  fkip  over  neighbour  Churches,  and 
fend  to  another  afar  off,  as  if  this  only  had  Wifdom  and 
Integrity  to  judge  in   their  Cafe. 

8.  Thefe  Councils  or  Prefbyteries  are  accountable  to  a 
Provincial  Synod,  whither  Appeals  from  them,  and  Re 
ferences  by  them,  are  to  be  made  :  But  by  no  means  from 
one  Prefbytery  to  another,or  to  have  Councils  upon  Coun 
cils Unlefs  inftead  of  a  Provincial  Synod  there  be  ra 
ther  fixed  a  Superiour  Council  or  Councils  in  every  Pro 
vince  which  may  confift  of  twoPrefbyteries  or  more  united 
.into  one. 

,,;!:     The  Reafons  of  this  are  many, 

(1)  To  keep  Councils  themfelves  in  Fear,  and   awe 
them  to  Faithfulnefs. 

(2)  To  correct  their  Errors,  or  to  vindicate  and  confirm 
their  Decifions.  . 

(3)  That  a  Man  may  have  the  Liberty  of  Appeal  and 
a  Pofiibility  of  being  righted  when  his  good  Name   and 
Enjoyment  of  fpiritual  Privileges  lie  at  Stake,  as  well  a« 
in  lighter  fecnlar  Matters. 

(4)  That  Differences  may  not  be  endlefs,  but  there  be 
fome  Judgraent  by  which  every  one  fhall  be*  determined 
•and  fubmit  unto.  '  Thus 


tor  «*  Ll-FlJ  ^CHARACTER 


think  :GiXTridIs  fhould  be  conftituted  if  we  defire 
to  fee  them  have  their  Efficacy  in  fupporting,preferving  and 
well  ordering  the  Intereflsof  the  Churches  in  the  Country. 

(1)  I  think   that  (landing  Councils  are  not  only  war 
rantable,  but  are  alfo  the  bed  and  wifeft  Conftitution. 

(2)  Their  Power  fhould  be  binding,  faving  only  Ap 
peals  to  be  from  them  to  Synods,  or  Superiour  Councils. 

(3)  The  Matters  to  be  handled  in  them  are  whatever 
concerns  the  Peace,  Order  and  Purity  of  the  Churches  with 
in  their  Diftrict,  which  their  own  Confiftories  cannot  come 
at  effectual  Meafures  about  :  as  directing  in  doubtful  Cafes, 
healing  Differences,  rebuking,  correcting  and  purging  out 
Errors  and  Scandals,  &c. 

(4)  I  think  there  fhould  be  no  iuch  thing  as  calling  of 
Councils,  fave  only  the  Moderators  doing  fo  upon  extra 
ordinary  Occafions  :  for  I  would  fuppofe  them  always  in 
Being  ;  and  they  are  to  be  applied  to  as  need  is  by  parti 
cular  Churches  or   Perfons. 

(5)  As  for  the  Right  of  Voting  in  Councils,  I  incline 
to  think  that  every  Member  has  a  Suffrage  ;  nor  do  I 
fee  through  .the  Opinion  of  fome,   that   Perfons  fhould 
be  prefent  to  advife  that  are  not  however  allowed  to  Vote. 

(  6)  Excepting  fuch  an  extraordinary  Cafe  fhould  happen 
as  I  hope  never  to  fee,  I  think  fome  fenior  Paftor  fhould 
ever  prefide  :  And  a  Clerk  or  Scribe  fhould  be  chofen 
and  fixed  as  much  as  a  Moderator. 

(7)  In  judging  of  Cafes  and  cenfuring  Perfons  there 
muft  appear  great  Integrity,  Impartiality,  Tendernefs, 
Goodnefs,  Gentlenefs  and  a  particular  Regard  had  to  the 
facred  Office  entreating  a  Minifter  as  a  Father  :  If  there 
be  Appearance  of  Craft,  Prejudices,  Cruelty  or  Difrefpeft 
it  will  hinder  the  good  Effect  of  our  Councils.  -  The 
Efficacy  of  our  Councils  will  alfo  much  depend  on  the 
Candor  and  mutual  Refpects  of  the  Members  to  each 
other  in  their  Debates  and  Carriages. 

A  Deference  and  Honour  to  be  paid  by  all  to  the 
Chair  ;  An  equal  Regard  given  by  the  Moderator  to 
erery  Member  :  The  Freedom  of  fpeaking  being  pre- 

ferved 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN.  103 

ferved  to  each  •,  that  Offence  be  not  taken  at  Difference 
of  Thought ;  and  as  on  the  one  Hand  the  Moderator  to 
be  fubmitted  to  refped fully,  when  he  goes  to  convince 
of  Error  in  Opinion,  or  Indecency  of  Speech  and  Be 
haviour  ;  fo  the  blamed  Action  or  Words  or  Opinion,  ne 
ver  to  be  heard  out  of  thofe  Walls  to  his  Prejudice,  either 
as  bold  or  erroneous  in  him. 

(8)  The  keepingErrors  andFaults  fecret,nnlefsDnty  and 
Neceflity  forbid  it,  may  be  a  means  to  give  our  Councils 
Efficacy,  and  conflrain  Men's  Honour  and  Reverence  for 
them,  when  they  fee  we  aim  not  to  expofe  Faults,  but  to 
recover  from  them  and  fo  bury  them. 

N.  B.  The  two  laft  Rules  more  proper  and  neceffary  in 
Confiflories  than  Councils  or  Synods. 

Some  of  the  Doftoi's  Thoughts  on  the  Third  Way  of 
Communion,  dated  July  23.  1733. 

CO  Although  our  Fathers  in  the  Synod  of pro- 

pofed  it,  yet  they  did  not  fee  caufe  afterwards  to  prac 
tice  upon  it,  not  for  want  of  Occafion  and  Opportunity,  or 
from  Inconfideration  of  the  Matter,  and  Unfaithfulnefs 
to  the  Churches  but  in  point  of  Prudence.  They  were 
as  wife  and  faithful  as  we  are  now,  but  they  threw  it  by 
as  not  fo  proper  a  Method,  or  at  lead  fearing  the  Event 
of  it,  and  it  may  be  fcrupling  it  from  the  Nature  of  the 
Thing. By  fo  long  a  Difufe,  even  from  the  Begin 
ning,  like  a  Law  or  Rule  made  and  never  put  in  Practice, 
it  is  grown  Obfolete  and  become  as  a  Thing  dead  and 
buried,  and  not  to  be  revived  and  put  in  force  at  the  Will 
of  a  private  Perfon,  nor  on  a  particular  Occafion  here 
and  there  :  for  as  much  as  we  are  fure  in  this  Cafe  the 
Parties  concerned  will  cry  out  of  it  as  an  Hardfhip  and 
Singularity,  a  Novelty  and  Impofition,  as  the  Rev.  Mr. 

G ;  of  W did  in  the  Day  when  he  was  furprifed 

with  the  Rev.  Mr.  W Vifitation,  and  almoft  all  the 

Minifters  and  Churches  round  about  him  joined  in  the 
Surprize  and  Refentment  which  he  fliowed  on  that  Oc 
cafion, 

(2;  Our 


104        We  LIFE-  and  CHARACTER 


Our  Fathers   fled   from  the  Vifitation  of  private 
Perfons,  Arch-deacons    and  Bifhops,  and  their  authorita 
tive  Inquifitions  •,  and  though  I    will  not  compare  the 
Enquiry  propos'd  in  the  third  Way  of  Communion,  with 
*hefe  Epifcopal  Vifitations,  which  were  imperious,  trivial 
•and  cruel  in  that  Day    to  an   intollerable    Degree:    yet 
neither  will  I  confent  to  be   fubject   as  a  Paftor,  and  my 
Church  with  me,  to  the  Vifitation  of  every   Neighbour 
Paftor  and  his   Church,  when  they  mall  pleafe  to  come 
and  make  Inquifition  how  Things  (land  among  us  •,  upon 
•the  Complaint  or   at  the  Defire  of   fome  uneafy,  or   ag 
grieved  Perfomor  Perfons  belonging  to  us  :   For  I  think 
••it  too  much  Authority  for  any  private  Neighbour   Mt- 
nifier  and  Church  to  afiume  to  themfelves  •,  And  thougfi 
we  are  bid  all  of  us  to  be  fubjecl  one  to  another  in  a  pri 
vate  Capacity,  and  all  things  are  lawful  for  me,  yet  all 
things  are  not  expedient,  and  I  will  not  be  brought  un 
der  the  Power  of  any,  in  fuch  a  manner  and   to  fuch   a 
Degree:  feil,  *  That  it  (ball  be  accounted  a  Fault,  and 
•juft  -Matter   of  Complaint  to  other   Churches,  that  the 
Vifitation  of  one  has  not  been  fubmitted  to  •,  fo  that  other 
Churches  upon  the  hearing  thereof  (hall  then  join    with 
the  firft  Victors  and  come  and  challenge  our  SubmiiTion, 
and  if  refufed  withdraw  Communion  from  us,  which  ?s 
a  very  grievous  Sentence,  but  a  Brutum  Fulmen  if  a  Curfe 
caufelefs. 

No  private  Paftor,  in  this  State  of  Infirmity,  wherein 
all  Men  are  of  like  Paffions,  is  fit  to  be  trufted  with  this 
Power  of  Vifuarion  and  Inquifition,  and  much  lefs  all 
and  every  Paftor  through  the  Land  •,  and  if  one  is,  all 
and  every  one  muft  be  fov  -  No  fingle  Perfon  is 
another's  Peer  to  enquire  and  judge  concerning  his  Con 
duct  -,  But  the  Right  of  Men  (and  the  Claim  of  Englifo- 
men  efpecially)  is  to  be  judged  by  their  Peer's,  and  by  a 
fufficient  Number  of  them  ;  and  thefe  difinterefted  and 
unprejudiced  ;  againft  others  he  has  a  Right  to  make 
Exception  in  all  Cafes  whatfoever. 

We  Minifters  know  our  own  and  the  Infirmities  of 

others  : 


; 

Of  Dt\    B  H  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  IvI  A  N.  I  05 

others  :  How  apt  a  Paftor  fometimes  is  to  be  prepofTaT- 
ed  by  the  Applications  of  a  Brother  to  him,  with  a  long 
formal  Story  of  his  Grievances  :  We  know  too  of  one 
another,  how  apt  we  may  be  to  be  partial  in  our  Opinion 
of  one  Man  and  another,  our  Efteem  of  one  Man  and 
not  of  another  -y  our  Affection  and  Disaffection  :  This 
alone  renders  the  Vifitation  of  this  or  that  Paftor,  unfit 
in  the  Cafe  of  fuch  or  fuch  an  one  ;  and  fo  it  does  of  his 
Delegates  with  him,  who  perhaps  are  of  his  own  Nomi 
nation,  and  very  much  under  his  Influence. —  And  he  a- 
gain  upon  his  not  being  hearkned  to,  has  the  Nomination 
of  other  Churches  to  return  with  him,  and  to  be  fure  he 
will  pick  out  fuch  Paftors  as  will  be  like  to  be  of  his 
Mind,  and  act:  with  or  under  him. —  But  let  me  have  a 
free  and  chofen  Jury,  a  competent  Number  of  unexcep 
tionable  Perfons,  to  make  Enquiry  and  pafs  Judgment  in 
my  Cafe  •,  but  let  me  not  have  any  Vifitor  or  Inquifitor  fee 
over  me,  who  is  no  more  or  better  than  my  felf ;  and 
lead  of  all  let  me  have  every  Neighbour  made  that  In 
quifitor  to  come  upon  me  when  he  will,  and  call  me  to 
Account.  This  may  poffibly,  be  even  a  greater  Hard- 
Ihip,  and  more  intolerable  Yoke  of  Bondage,  than  that 
which  our  Fathers  fled  from. 

(3)  Is  it  expedient  at  this  Day  to  go  into  this  Method  ? 
Perhaps  the  Principles  of  many  of  the  Paftors  through 
the  Land  are  in  Favour  of  a  more  Clafiical  and  Prefby- 
terial  Order  in  our  Churches  :  To  be  fure  the  Epifcopal 
Gentlemen  will  be  like  to  make  Advantages  of  our  going 
into  this  Method. 

(i)  Would  it  be  prudent  to  fet  Paftor  upon  Paftor,  as 
we  lie  mixed  through  the  Land,  of  a  different  Opinion 
on  this  Head  ?  Will  one  be  like  to  fubmit  to  the  Vifi 
tation  of  another  ?  Will  you  withdraw  Communion  with 
all  that  will  not  ?  What  fay  you  ?  Will  it  not  run  us 
prefently  into  a  kind  of  civil  War  ?  Will  it  not  produce 
Jealonfies,  and  Envyings,  and  Strifes,  and  every  evil 
Work  ?  Can  you  bear  down,  and  turn  out  thofe  that  will 
oppofe  this  Method  ?  Or  is  their  Character  from  Place 

P  to 


106          tte  L I F  E  and  C  H  A  R  A  C  T  E  R 

to  Place,  from  County  to  County,  fuch  as  fhall  deferve 
it  ?  Can  the  Paftors  of  thefe  Churches,  upon  any  rational 
Profpecl,  remain  united  Brethren  under  this  Conduct  ? 

(2)  What  Advantage  then  fhall  we  give  to  the  Epif- 
copal  Gentlemen  by  our  Divifions  on  this  Head  ?  Men 
will  be  ready  to  prefer  the  Power  of  Vifitation  in  a  fin- 
gle  eminent  Bifhop  or  Arch-Deacon,  to  that  of  every  pri 
vate  Paftor  that  fhall  pleafe  to  fet  up  himfelf  ?  And  our 
own  Paftors  may  be  tempted  and  driven  to  fubmit  to  the 
Vifitation  of  two  or  three,  rather  than  that  of  every  one. 
And  if  one  and  another  has  a  Mind  to  go  over  to  the 
Church,  or  find  themfelves  forced  to  take  Refuge  there, 
they  will  do  it  with  far  the  more  Grace,  and  plaufible 
Shew  of  flying  from  an  Impofition  or  Inquifition,  lefs  to 
lerable  (they  will  fay)  than  that  of  Epifcopacy. — At  the 
fame  Time  the  Proteftant  Churches  through  the  World, 
both  the  Epifcopal,  Prefbyterian,  and  Independent,  will 
look  upon  the  odd  Reprefentation  and  Face  that  will  be 
given  of  the  Matter,  as  a  new  and  ftrange  Sort  of  Crea 
ture,  in  the  other  Extream  of  Difcipline  ;  "  Every  Paf* 
tor  vetted  with  the  Right  and  Power  of  vifiting  the  o- 
ther  !  They  may  gaze  at  this  Phenomenon,  but  will  ne 
ver  wander  after  it. — They  that  go  off  from  us  will  catch 
at  it  as  a  Pretence  for  doing  fo,  and  No-body  but  our- 
felves  will  fee  into  the  Reafon  of  this  new  Method,  nor 
fay  a  Word  in  Juflification  of  it. 

(4.)  That  which  gives  me  a  particular  Offence  and 
fcandalizes  me  againft  it*  is  the  Pretence  '  That  this  is 
the  only  Way  wherein  to  admonifh  a  faulty  Paftor  or 
Church,  or  to  withdraw  fromCommunion  with  them. — So 
that  if  there  be  a  Council  of  Ten  Churches,  that  have 
met  in  the  fecond  Way  of  Communion  (as  it  is  called,) 
and  having  heard  the  Cafe,  and  find  Things  very  much 
amifs,  and  that  the  Paftor  and  the  Majority  of  a  Church 
are  very  injurious  to  the  Aggrieved,  yet  this  large  Coun 
cil  may  not  prefume,  and  have  no  Call  or  Right  to  dif- 
penfe  a  Word  of  Admonition  to  them,  or  to  certify  to 
them,  that  if  the  Offence  given  be  not  removed,  they 

mult 


of  Dr.  B  £  N  j  A  M  i  N  C  o  L  M  A  N.  r  07 

muft  lay  it  before  their  refpe&ive  Churches,  and  be  in 
the  Advice  to  them  to  withdraw  Communion  from  them. 
Yet  at  the  fame  Time,  a  fmgle  Church  in  the  third  Way 
of  Communion,  taking  with  them  one  or  two,  or  a  few 
more  mall  have  Authority  to  admonifh  and  withdraw 
Communion. 

Now  what  Reafon  can  there  be  for  a  Council  of  three 
or  four  Churches  in  one  Way  to  have  that  Power  which 
is  denied  to  a  Council  of  ten  Churches  in  the  other  ?  If 
it  be  faid,  this  is  our  Conflitution  by  Platform,  it  only 
fhows  the  Imperfection  and  Unreafonablenefs  of  the 
Platform,  in  denying  to  the  Council  in  the  fecond  Way, 
the  Rights  that  belong  to  them  as  Chriftian  Men,  Paftors 
and  Meflengers  met  together  to  hear,  judge,  advife,  ad 
monifh  as  there  may  be  Occafion.  As  a  private  Chrifti 
an  I  may  lawfully  reprove  and  admonifh  my  Brother  ; 
but  ten  Churches  met  together  in  Council,  may  not  do 
the  like  to  an  offending  Church.  Why,  who  can  fay  ? 
How  come  we  to  lofe  the  Rights  of  Men  and  Chriftians 
by  coming  together  into  a  Council  ?  Is  not  the  Judg 
ment,  Admonition,  and  Advice,  the  more  reverend  and 
weighty,  by  its  coming  from  many,  than  from  one  or  a 
few  ?  If  the  bare  human  Conftitution  mufl  debar  one 
Council  and  authorize  another,  where  both  have  equal 
Right  in  the  Nature  of  Things,  I  defire  to  be  free  from 
fuch  impofing  and  abridging  Canons  of  Men.  I  would 
never  go  to  Council,  with  my  Tongue  and  Hands  tied, 
no  more  than  with  my  Eyes  and  Ears  flopped. 
4J3  .t^sjjq  (?*fh  fnofelPifi  :$%>!q  '{f>;-;<'>  DpiTffM'w^rtj 

That   Dr.   Colman  retained  like   Sentiments  on  thefe 
Heads  the  following  Extract  from  a  Letter,  wrote  to  one 
of  his  Brethren,  Nov.  17.  1735,  mews, 
"  Rev.  Sir, 

— In  fhort,  the  Confociation  ofCburches^s  the  /ery  Soul 
and  Life  of  the  Congregational  Scheme,  necefury  to  the 
very  Effe  as  well  as  Bene  of  it  ;  without  which  we 
muft  be  Independent,  and  with  which  all  the  Good  of 
Prejbyteriamfm  is  attainable. 

But 


io8-       tte  LIFE  and   CHARACTER 

But  the  confociated  Churches  of  every  Neighbourhood 
muft  have  their  dated  Meetings,  the  Paftor  with  a  Dele 
gate  from  each  Church,  and  whatever  Cafe  may  occur  in 
faid  Churches,  comes  naturally  and  by  Confent  firft  un 
der  the  Cognizance  and  Counfel  of  this  AfTembly,  whe 
ther  it  be  by  Way  of  Enquiry  or  by  /Ipplications  made 
to  them. 

Our  prefent  Way  of  going  an  Enquiry,  or  fending  for 
Counfel  whither  we  lift,  picking  and  chufing,  with  open 
Partiality  and  manifeft  Selfifhnefs,  here  and  there,  in 
Contempt  of  Neighbours,  who  bed  know  and  fhould 
moft  care  for  us,  is  manifeftly  not  of  GOD  and  Order, 
nor  for  Righteoufnefs  and  Peace,  or  efficacious  Influence. 

So  neither  is  the  Paftor's  going  like  a  common  Bro 
ther,  without  Character,  or  ex  Officio  •,  when  the  Scrip 
ture  every  where  gives  him  a  didinguifhing  Character 
(<and  fo  does  the  Platform  too  in  many  Places)  and  con- 
fiders  him  always  in  his  Office. 

Nor  is  it  juft  or  orderly  for  one  Church  to  fend  a  great 
er  Number  of  Delegates  than  another,  and  every  Dele 
gate  with  a  Voice  equal  to  his  Pallors,  by  which  Means 
the  Brotherhood  becomes  vaftly  fuperior  to  the  Elderfhip 
in  our  Councils.  This  is  all  Confufion,  without  Reafon, 
and  contrary  to  the  Current  of  Scripture,  refpefling  the 
Elderfhip,  in  my  Opinion. 

If  the  Churches  come  into  fuch  an  Ac~l  of  Confocia- 
tion  through  the  Land,  it  may  make  them  ftrong  ;  but 
for  any  or  every  Church  to  take  upon  them  to  vifit  ano 
ther,  when  and  as  they  pleafe,  and  whom  they  pleafe  to 
forbear,  making  Enquiries  into  their  State,  Peace  and  Pu 
rity,  muft  needs  be  a  Source  of  endlefs  Animofity,  and  is  a 
Xoke  which  neither  our  Fathers  before  us  were  able  to 
bear,  nor  will  any  that  dial  I  come  after  us. 

By  thefe  Hints,  Sir,  you  may  fee  my  Thoughts  ; 
for  which  End  I  fuppofe  you  put  the  EfTay  into  my 
Hand,  and  I  am  your  weak  unworthy  Brother  and 
Servant, 

On 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  109 

On  tie  Right  of  chufing  a  Minifter. 

He  was  not  for  confining  the  Right  of  chufing  a  Mi 
nifter  to  the  Communicants  alone,  but  thought  that  every 
baptized  adult  Perfon,  of  fober  and  good  Converfation, 
who  contributed  to  the  Maintenance  of  one  fhould  have 
a  Vote  in  electing.  It  appeared  to  him  that  this  Order 
was  right  and  good,  founded  in  Nature,  and  confirmed 
by  Apoftolick  Practice,  and  through  the  firft  300  Years 
of  the  Primitive  Church.  Accordingly  when  his  People 
were  about  chufing  him  a  Colleague  1715 — He  uttered 
the  following  Words,  in  a  Speech  to  them. 

"  As  to  the  Apoftolical  Times  and  Records  there  are 
"  but  two  Elections  that  occur  to  my  Remembrance,  and 
"  they  were  both  made  by  the  free  Vote  of  all  the  Dif- 
"  ciples  together,  in  the  Prefence  of  the  Apoftles. 

The  firft  was  the  Nomination  of  two  Perfons  one  of 
whom  fhould  by  Lot  (and  not  by  Vote  of  Election 
which  of  the  two)  fucceed  to  the  Apoftlefhip  from  which 
Judas  by  TranfgrefTion  fell  ;  of  which  you  read  ARs  \. 
from  1 5th  Ver.  &c.  that  Peter  flood  up  in  the  Midft 
of  the  Difciples  (now  the  Number  of  the  Names  toge 
ther  were  about  an  Hundred  and  twenty,)  and  propofed 
to  them  to  chufe  two  Perfons  •,  and  they  (i.  e.  the  Hun 
dred  and  twenty,  the  Apoftles  not  affuming  this  Nomi 
nation  to  themfelves,  which  was  certainly  by  the  fpecial 
Direction  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  as  a  Rule  to  Chriftian  So 
cieties  in  futureElections)  they,  I  fay,  the  whole  Hundred 
and  twenty  Brethren  appointed  two,  and  fo  referred  the 
Lot  to  Providence  ;  and  it  fell  upon  Matthias,  and  he 
was  numbered  with  the  eleven  Apoftles. 

The  other  Scripture  Inftance  we  have  in  the  fixth 
Chapter  of  Afts^  where  the  Apoftles  found  it  neceflary 
to  have  feven  Men  chofen,  of  honeft  Report,  Sanctity 
and  Wifdom,  to  minifter  as  Deacons  in  the  Church  ; 
,  whereupon  they  called  the  Multitude  of  the  Difciples  to 
gether,  and  faid —  Brethren,  look  ye  out  among  you  fe 
ven  Men  whom  we  may  appoint  over  this  Bufinefs :  and 

the 


no        ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

;the  Saying  pleafed  the  whole  Multitude,  and  they  chofe 
the  feven  Perfons,  and  fet  them  before  the  Apoftles,  who 
ordained  them  by  Prayer  and  Impofition  of  Hands. 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  of  Difpute  about  the  Of 
fice  to  which  thefe  Seven  were  ordained,  but  whatever 
it  was,  more  or  lefs,  you  fee  that  the  whole  Multitude  of 
the  Believers  chofe  them,  and  then  the  Apoftles  ordained 
them. 

And  now  Brethren,  mall  I  go  into  the  Hiftory  of  the 
Primitive  Church,  and  mew  you  that  this  was  the  Prac 
tice  of  the  next  Ages  after  the  Apoftles  in  the  Election 
of  their  Bifliops  and  Paftors  :  Their  Parimes  which  were 
their  Diocefles  chofe  them.  And  I  am  glad,  Brethren,to 
fee  among  you  fo  many  Perfons  of  liberal  Education, 
•while  I  lay  before  the  whole  Society,  a  brief  Collection 
of  Inftances  in  the  Chriftian  Church  of  the  firft  300 
Years  after  our  Saviour's  Afcenfion,  to  countenance  and 
confirm  us  in  our  prefent  Method. 

In  the  firft  Place  I  obferve,  That  the  Bifhop  or  Paftor's 
Cure  was  in  the  primitive  Times  denominated  by  the 
"Word  Parijh,  paraike,  which  Word  to  this  Day  keeps 
the  fame  Senfe  among  us  which  it  did  then  :  fell,  the 
Bounds  of  a  particular  Church  or  Congregation  of  Wor- 
fhippers  :  For  indeed  the  proper  Senfe  of  the  Word 
paraike,  is  —  dwelling  one  by  another,  as  Neighbours  do. 

Accordingly  the  Epiftle  of  Clemens  Romanus,  is  to  the 
Church  of  God  parifhing  at  Corinth  :  paraikoefe  korinthon 
And  this  Name  had  fo  obtained  by  long  Ufe,  before  Eu- 
febius's  Time,  that  through  his  Ecclefiaftical  Hiftory, 
there  is  nothing  more  common  than  to  read  of  the  Bi- 
Ihop  of  the  Parijh  of  Alexandria,  the  Parifli  of  Ephefus, 
the  Parifli  of  Corinth,  the  Parifli  of  Athens,  the  Parifli  of 
Carthage,  &c. 

The  Word  Diocefs  is  of  modern  Ufe,  and  not  to  be 
Found  in  its  prefent  Senfe  among  the  Ancients  :  Dioce- 
fan  Epifcopacy  is  of  a  later  Inftitution  and  human  only  ; 
but  the  Paftoral  Care  and  Charge  of  a  Parifh  or  particu 
lar  Flock  is  from  the  Beginning. 

But 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  in 

But  that  which  concerns  us  at  this  Time,  is  only  this, 
that  when  the  Bifhop  or  Paftor  of  a  Church  was  dead, 
all  the  People  of  that  Church  met  together  in  one  Place 
to  chufe  a  new  Bifhop. 

Agreeably  Cyprian  tells  us  that  Sabinus  was  elected  Bi 
fhop  of  Emerita,  by  the  Suffrage  of  all  the  Brotherhood  : 
(Univerfe  Fraternitatis  fuffragio)  and  that  it  was  the 
Cuftom  through  all  Africa,  Epifcopus  deligatur  pkbe 
prefente. 

Eufebius  tells  us,  that  Fabianus  was  chofen  Bifhop  of 
Rome  by  all  the  Brethren  met  together  for  that  End. 

And  Cyprian  tells  us,  that  after  the  Death  of  Fabianus, 
Cornelius  was  chofen  Bifhop  (Cleri  ac  Pkbis  Suffragio)  by 
the  Suffrage  of  the  Clergy  and  People. 

Clement  in  his  Epiftle  to  the  Corinthians  fays,  that  none 
were  ordained  but  with  the  Approbation  of  the  whole 
Church  :  funenotokefafes  tes  ekklejias  pafes. 

And  by  Ignatius  in  his  Epiftle  to  the  Pbiladelpbians, 
it  appears  that  when  they  were  to  fend  a  Meffenger  to 
any  foreign  Church,  the  People  met  together  to  chufe 
him. —  And  in  his  Epiflle  to  Polycarp,  there  are  two 
Things  obferved  to  our  prefent  Purpofe. 

(1)  That  the  Bifhop  is  there  fuppofed  to  know  his 
whole  Flock  perfonally  by  their  Names :    ek,  onomatos 
pantas  zetei. 

(2)  That  he  advifes  Poly  carp  to  convene  his  People  to 
chufe  a  faithful  Man  to  fend  into  Syria. 

In  the  Life  of  Cyprian,  the  Author  tells  us,  that  he 
was  chofen  Bifhop  (Plebis  Favore)  by  the  Favour  of  the 
People  ;  and  Cyprian  himfelf  in  one  of  his  Epiftles  owns 
that  he  was  chofen  (Populi  univerji  Suffragio)  by  the  Suf 
frage  of  all  his  People. 

Only  it  needs  to  be  noted  upon  what  has  been  faid  ; 
that  thefe  Ele&ions  were  not  made  by  the  People  without 
the  Notice  and  Approbation  of  the  neighbouring  Bifhops 
or  Paftors  ;  and  it  feems  to  me  that  they  fometimes  com 
mended  the  Perfon  to  the  Flock  to  be  chofen  by  them  ; 
and  at  other  Times  that  they  were  prefent  and  chofe  with 

Ot; 


ji2  The  LIFE^CHARACTER 

or  for  them  :  We  find  by  Cyprian,  Eplfcoporum  Judicium 
( the  Judgment  of  the  neighbouring  Bifhops  )  for  juit 
before  it  is  faid  (  Epifcopi  eju/dem  Province  proximi  quia^ 
conveniant,  plebe  prefente^  the  neighbouring  Bifhops  of 
the  Province  being  prefent )  We  find  I  fay,  the  Judg 
ment  of  the  Bifhops  join'd  with  the  Suffragium  univerfa 
Fraternitatis :  with  the  Vote  and  Eledion  of  the  Bro 
therhood  ;  which  is  agreeable  to  our  own  Practice,  for  we 
chufe  none  but  whom  the  neighbouring  Paftors  confent 
and  agree  in  ^  to  whom  we  prefent  them  for  Ordination. 

Now,  Brethren,  by  thefe  and  many  more  Examples 
which  might  be  brought,  as  well  as  by  the  Rights  of  Na 
ture,  it  appears  to  me  that  we  are  upon  a  right  Foot  of 
Election,  all  the  Brethren  of  the  Congregation  joining  to 
gether  therein. 

if  you  afk  me  what  makes  a  Brother"  and  Member 
of  a  particular  Church  ?  I  anfwer,  Baptifm  into  the  Name 
of  Chrift,  and  a  publick  Profeffion  of  the  Faith  of 
Chrift  together  with  a  Chriftian  Converfation  agreeable 
thereunto,  and  attending  the  Worfhip  of  God  in  this  or 
that  particular  Congregation,  fubmitting  to  the  Orders 
of  Chrift  therein,  and  contributing  to  the  Support  of  the 
Worfhip  of  God  there. 

When  I  fay  this,  I  don't  excufe  thofe  that  negleft  the 
Table  of  Chrift,  which  the  primitive  Church  knew  no 
thing  of :  No,  it  is  a  ftrange  and  blameable  Defe6t  and 
Fault  among  us,  which  fhould  not  be  found  among  Chri- 
ftians  :  But  under  this  Defect,  God  forbid,  that  therefore 
thefe  our  fober  and  vertuous  Brethren,  whom  we  fhould 
be  glad  to  fee  at  the  Lord's  Table  with  us,  fhould  be 
therefore  denied  their  Right  to  aft  with  us  in  the  Choice 
of  a  Minifter. 

I  take  it  to  be  a  Privilege  equally  purchafed  by  Chrift 
for  all  that  profefs  his  Name ;  whofe  Souls  are  equally 
precious,  and  who  muft  judge  every  one  for  himfelf,  and 
if  any  thing  calls  for  a  free  and  ferious  Choice  for  ones 
ewn  Comfort  and  Benefit,  that  of  our  Minifter  doth  fo. 

' 

CHAP. 


0f  Dr.    B  £  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N,  1 1  ^ 

'  '•  £  CHAP.     VII.     -|||?^'^ 

Great  Benefits  arifing  from  his  Travels 
Abroad  in  his  Youth,  and  his  Sagacity 
and  Diligence  at  Home,  more  particu 
larly  in  the  Matter  of  Benefadions,  — 
Honours  done  him  from  Scotland  &c. 


THE  wife  and  gracious  Providence  of  God  which 
orders  all  Things  well,  and  for  Ends  that  lie  far 
out  of  his  Creatures  View,  fuffered  Dr.  Colman  (  as  has 
been  before  largely  related  )  to  be  flript  naked  in  the 
Way  to  London^  and  there  prefented  him  in  his  deftitute 
Condition  to  the  Charity  and  Generofity  of  Madam 
Parkhurft,  where  his  Lodgings  immediately  brought  him 
into  the  Knowledge  of  the  'London  Miniflers,  and  after 
wards  into  a  mofl  happy  Correfpondence  with  her  worthy 
Son  the/  honorable  Samuel  Holden  Efq  ;  whom  God  en 
riched  and  raifed  to  the  Head  of  the  Bank  of  England, 
and  fet  alfo  at  the  Head  of  the  Diffenters  in  London  ; 
and  withal  gave  him  an  Heart  to  ufe  both  his  Eftate  and 
his  great  Intereft  at  Court  for  the  doing  Good  in  his 
Generation. 

From  his  Hand,  (  of  his  own  meer  Motion,  )  Dr.1 
Colman  received  no  lefs  than  'Thirty-nine  Sets  of  the  prac 
tical  Works  of  the  late  venerable  Mr.  Richard  Baxter^ 
about  the  Year  1 730. — to  deftribute  among  our  Churches, 
which  amounts  to  more  then  Five  Hundred  Pounds  in  our 
Money  ,  And  afterward  at  Dr.  Colmarfs  Requeft  to  him 
undertook  the  Caufe  of  the  Infant-Church  at  South- King  ft  on 
in  the  Nnraganfet  Country,  and  fent  us  an  Order  of  the 
King  and  Council  for  putting  the  Rev.  Mr.  Torry  \\  in 

||  A  Congregational  Minifter. 

C  PolTeffion 


114          tte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

PofTeflion  of  the  Miniftry  Lands  there  ('near  300  Acres)*. 

In  his  Letter  to  Dr.  Colman  which  inclofed  the  King's 
Order,  he  writes, "  All  I  have  todefire  in  Life,  unworthy 
"  of  any  Thing,  is  to  fill  up  the  Remainder  in  Thank- 
"  fulnefs  to  God,  Ufefulnefs  to  Men,  and  a  growing 
"  Meetnefs  for  a  better  State."  —  Would  to  God  this 
golden  PafTage  might  be  confidered  and  weighed  by  the 
great  Ones  of  our  Nation  and  Land ! 

Other  eminent  Services  for  the  Country  and  Churches 
were  undertaken  and  performed  by  him  relating  to  unhap 
py  Law-fuits  commenced  between  Church- men  and  Dii- 
fenters  with  Refpeft  to  Miniftry  Rates,  and  the  Province 
Laws  about  them,  all  through  Dr.  Caiman's  Influence  who 
wrote  to  him  by  defire  of  the  Government. 

Great  and  numerous  were  his  Bounties  ro  us  as  appears 
by  the  Receipts :  In  Books  and  Bills  of  Exchange  to  the 
amount  of  no  lefs  than  4847  £.  New-England  Currency 
to  be  diflributed  by  Dr.  Colman  in  works  of  Piety  and 
Chanty. 

And  after  his  Death  from  the  Honourable  Madam 
Bolden  and  her  virtuous  Daughters  (the  Chappel  in  Cam* 
bridge  included  -\-)  no  lefs  than  5585  £.  which  makes 
10,432  £.  in  all. —  Now  it  was  Dr.  Colman 's  early  Tra 
vels  and  Sufferings  and  Recommendations  happily  laid 
the  Foundation  of  all  thefe  great  Benefactions  and  Exhi 
bitions  to  the  Churches  and  Poor  among  us. 

*  Which  were  granted  by  the  Proprietors  of  Petaquamfcut  Purchafe, 
now  in  South  -Kingjhn  in  Narraganfet,  to  be  laid  out  and  forever  fet 
apart  for  the  Ufe'of  an  Orthodox  Perfon,  that  fliould  be  obtained  to 
preach  God's  Word,  to  the  Inhabitants.  Thefe  Grantors  were  five, 
who  all  'brought  up  their  Children  in  the  Congregational  Way,  and 
Three  of  them  were  Members  in  full  Communion  in  our  Churches. 
To  thefe  Lands,  the  Epifcopaliaus  unjuftly  laid  Claim. 

In  this  Matter  Dr.  Colman  not  only  wrote,  and  laboured  much,  but 
expended  very  confiderable  Sums  of  his  own  Moneys.  I  find  him  of 
fering  Ten  Pounds  Sterling  at  one  Time,,  without  any  Security  of  being 
repaid. 

•\  For  which  he  in  Conjunction  with  the  Honourable  MeiBr» 'Tfe-'.? - 

llutcrxnfcn  and received  an  Order  for  400  £.  Sterling.— 

N.  B.  This  was  given  at  the  Moiion  of  Thomas  thtcbivfon. 

no5K  Upon 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  0  L  M  A  til  115 

Upon  the  forrowful  News  of  this  great  and  good  Man's 
Deceafe  Dr.  Colman  preached  a  Sermon  f  at  the  Publick 
Le6ture  in  Bofton,  Sept.  4.  1 740,  in  the  Audience  of  his 
Excellency  the  Governor,  and  the  Great  and  General 
Court  of  the  Province,  wherein  he  embalms  the  Memory 
of  this  our  great  Benefactor,  and  beftows  due  Honours 
upon  him,  which  was  printed  at  the  Defire,  and  by  Or 
der  of  the  General  Aflembly.  In  that  Sermon  may  be 
feen  Tranfcripts  of  many  Letters,  which  fhow  the  Gen 
tleman,  the  Philofopher,  and  the  Chriftian. 

"  Such  a  Man  (fays  Dr.  Colman)  God  raifed  up  for  us, 
"  our  Friend  for  his  Name's  Sake.  He  loved  our  Country, 
"  and  ferved  our  Churches^  with  his  rich  Eflate^  and  with 
"  all  his  great  Inter  eft  at  Court,  for  the  Name  of  pure  Re- 
"  ligion  among  us — This  was  the  Servant  who  like  his 
"  SAVIOUR  was  not  to  be  tempted  by  the  World  in  all 
"  its  Glories  !  They  could  not  move  off  his  Eye  and 
"  Heart  from  the  heavenly  Glory. — In  more  like  grate 
ful  Strains  of  Eloquence  did  the  Dr.  celebrate  and  com 
memorate  him. 

I  pafs  now  to  mention  and  record  Dr.  Colman9 s  great 
and  happy  Services  to  the  College,  and  in  that  to  the 
Country,  and  all  the  Churches  in  the  Matter  of  the  ho 
noured  Mr.  Thomas  Hollis's  Bounties  which  he  ever  fpake 
of  as  the  great  Honour  and  firft  Pleafure  of  his  Life  — 
When  he  faw  the  Father  of  this  good  Man  in  his  Dark- 
fiefs  at  Bath  Eight  and  Forty  Years  ago,  he  little  thought 
of  the  happy  Correfpondence  he  was  to  go  into  with  this 
his  Son,  which  was  altogether  providential  and  not  at  all 
of  his  feeking  ;  but  while  he  was  purfuing  the  Reco 
very  of  a  Legacy  of  1 60  £.  Sterling,  for  two  poor  Or 
phans  (in  the  Years  1717  and  18  )  his  Letters  fell  into 
this  Gentleman's  Hands,  whofe  Heart  was  devifing  liberal 
Things,  and  fixt  it  on  us,  and  the  Interefts  of  Learning 
among  us,  by  the  Will  of  God,  to  that  Degree  as  has  pro- 

•J-  From  Matth.  xxv.  21,  22.  —  Enter  tkou  into  the  Joy  oftby  Lord. 

duced 


ii  6        Me  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

duced  all  the  Profufion  of  Bounties  for  a  Courfe  of 
Years,  together,  the  Fruit  whereof  we  truft  will  remain 
to  all  Pofterity,  to  the  Glory  of  God  for  ever  ! 

There  are  found  no  Jefs  than  Fifty-three  Letters  from 
Mr.  Thomas  Hollisto  Mr.  Colman  (all  relating  to  the  Col 
lege  J  put  in  Order,  in  which  are  to  be  feen  the  Particulars 
of  the  great  and  good  Things  intended  and  done  by  him 
for  New-England,  befides  a  Multitude  of  others  on  vari 
ous  Occafions. 

He  founded  a  Profefibrfhip  of  Divinity  allowing  Eighty 
Pounds  per  Annum  ;  and  ten  Scholars  to  receive  annual 
ly  forever  Ten  Pounds  \  he  fent  us  the  Hebrew  and  Greek 
Types  ;  and  Books  to  a  great  Value.  —  Then  he  pro 
ceeded  and  founded  a  ProfefTorfhip  of  the  Mathematicks 
and  Experimental  Philofophy,  allowing  Eighty  Pounds 
per  Annum  :  And  gave  a  rich  Apparatus  for  his  Profef- 
for's  Ufe  of  One  Hundred  and  Fifty  Pounds  Sterling  ;  fa 
that  his  Bounties  amount  to  feveral  Thoujand  Pounds  our 
Money.  I  find  the  Sum  Total  fet  down  in  one  of  Div 
Colman's  Papers  to  be  5,400  £.  To  the  procuring  all 
which  he  was  fingularly  inftrumental 

When  Dr.  Colman  received  the  fad  Tydings  of  the 
Deceafe  of  this  his  dear  and  honoured  Friend>  he  preached 
a  Sermon  *f  on  the  Occafion  at  the  publick  Lecture  in 
JBofton^  April  i.  173.1.  before  the  Great  and  General. 
Cou.rt^  wherein  he  celebrates  Mr.  Hollis  as  a  mofl  gene 
rous  and  noble  Patron  of  Learning  and  Religion  in  the 
Churches  of  New-England.  This  Sermon  was  alfo  print 
ed  by  Defire  and  Order  of  the  General  AfTembly  and  de 
dicated  to  them.  "  He  was  ('fays  he)  one  of  thofe  righ 
teous  Men  who  fhould  be  had  in  everlafting  Remem 
brance.  Like  Araunnab  he  gave  as  a  Prince.'  —  Of  his, 
©wn  rneer  Motion  he  poured  in  upon  us,  and  upon  other 
Places  alfo,  from  Time  to  Time,  as  a  living  Spring  whofe 
"Waters  fail  not.  —  -  That  which  is  fwgular  in  the  Piety. 
Benefits  of  Mr.  Hollis  unto  thefe  Churches  was,  that 


-f-  From  John  xi.  1  1.  -  Our  friend  Lazarus  Jleepetb. 

he. 
• 


Of  Dr.    B  £  N  J  A  M  IN    C  0  L  M  A  N! 

he.  was  not  ftridly  of  our  Way  ;  nor  in  Judgment  with 
us  in  Point  of  Infant-Baptifm  ;  yet  his  Heart  and  Hand- 
was  the  fame  to  us> —  as  if  iw  bad  been  one  in  Opinion 
and  Pra<5lice  with  him.—  And  in  this  let  him  fland  a 
teaching  Pattern  and  Example  to  us.  of  a  noble,  chriftian 
and  catholick  apoftolick  Spirit  of  Love,"  &c. 

"  It  was  fome  Account  he  received  from  us  of  the 
free  and  catholick  Air  we  breathe  at  our  Cambridge,  where 
Proteftants  of  every  Denomination  may  have  their  Chil 
dren  educated,  and  graduated  in  our  College,  if  they  be 
have  with  Sobriety  and  Virtue  \  that  took  his  generous 
Heart  and  fixed  it  on  us,  and  enlarged  it  to  us. —  And" 
this  (hall  be  with  me  among  his  diftinguiming.  Praifes, 
while  we  rife  up  and  blefs  his  Memory  ;  ;'.  e.  blefs  God 
in  Remembrance  of  all  the  un-deferved  Favours  done  us 
by  him.* 

Soon  after  the  Death  of  this  pious  and  charitable  Gen 
tleman,  Dr.  Colman  received  Letters  from  Another  at 
London,,  a  near  Relation  of  Mr.  Hollis's,  and  a  joyful 
\Vitneis  of  their  long  and  happy  Correfpondence,  with  a 
Bill  of  Exchange  for  340  £.  New-England  Currency  to 
diftribute  among  the  Poor  in  our  Churches. 

This  fame  Gentleman  offered  the  Settlement  of  Twenty 
Pounds  Sterling  per  Annum,  fora.  Fourth  Mijfionary  among 
the  Indians  on  our  Borders. , 

When  he  firfit  wrote  to.  Dr.  Colman,  he  defired  to  have 
his  Name  fecreted  :  And  I  doubt  not  (  by  the  Temper 
and  Spirit  difcovered  in  his  many  Letters  that  now  lie  be 
fore  me)  he  would  be  glad  to  do.  all  his  Charities  accord 
ing  to  our  Lord's  Direction  (Mat.  vi.  1,2,  3.)  in  the  rnoft 
fecret  Manner. — But  this  was  impracticable  as  to  fbme  of 
thofe  Exhibitions  and  Ufes  propofed  by  him.  f 

*  I  have  feveral  good  Reafons  for  publiihing  thefe  Paflages,  as  well 
as  the  former  Ones  concerning  Mr,  Holdtn  ;  and  one  of  them  is,  That 
I  am  well  fatisfied,  that  if  Dr.  Colman  had  wrote  his  own  Life,  he 
would  have  digreffed  in  this  Mariner,  and  faid  much  more. 

•f  Therefore  his  Name  is  now  known  to  us — Ifaac  Hollis  Nephew 
to  Mr.  Thomas  Hollis  —  A  Reverend   Minifter  of  the 
PeHwafion. 


US  'The  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

April  6.  1736,  He  wrote  again,  and  added  another 
Bounty,  and  a  great  One  for  the  Support  of  focne  Indian 
Children  at  Houfatonnoc^  Food,  Cloathing  and  Lodging, 
the  entire  Charge  of  which  he  would  defray  ;  and  ac 
cordingly  gave  Order  to  draw  immediately  for  Two 
Hundred  Pounds  our  Money  for  a  Beginning. —  In  No 
vember  the  fame  Year  he  fent  56  £.  Sterling  more,  to  be 
applied  to  the  Ufe  aforefaid,  which  was  accordingly  fent 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Sergeant  Minifter  of  the  Gofpel  at 
Stockbridge,  to  whom  the  Education  of  the  Children  was 
committed  —  And  from  Year  to  Year  ever  fince  he  has 
fupported  them  *  there. 

It  is  fet  down  on  a  loofe  Paper,  dated  Feb.  1 745,6,  Six 
Hundred  and  thirty-four  Pounds  has  been  already  fent 
and  applied  to  faid  Ufe.— —But  I  forbear  enlarging  on 
this  Head,  left  I  fhould  offer  Violence  to  the  Modefty  of 
this  good  and  riling  Benefactor  to  Mankind. 

Dr.  Colman's  Heart  was  as  much  fet  on  the  civilizing 
and  gofpelizing  tbefe  our  Heathen  Neighbours  (as  the  o- 
thers  mentioned  Chap.  6th)  and  he  embraced  every  Oc- 
cafion  and  happy  Incident  for  this  Purpofe — There  is  one 
Inftance  of  his  Care  and  Zeal  for  them,  which  the  World 
has  been  already  made  acquainted  withal,  viz.  The  Pub 
lication  of  a  Letter  wrote  to  him  from  a  worthy  Gentle 
man,  in  Anfwer  to  one  of  his  in  our  Weekly  Journal  of 
Feb.  7.  1 744,  which  is  worthy  of  a  Place  here.—  A 
warm  Provocation  to  good  Works ! 

. 
"  Reverend  and  dear  Sir, 

You  did  me  the  Favour  fome  Weeks  ago,  (from  which 
Time  I  have  not  been  able  to  write  'till  now)  to  fend  me 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Sergeant's  Scheme  -f  (with  your  Letter  an 
nexed  to  irjfor  promoting  Chriftian  Knowledge  among  the 
Indians  at  Houffatonnoc,  by  civilizing,  and  bringing  them 
to  a  good  Opinion  of  Induftry  and  Frugality,  &c.  which 

*  I  think  the  Number  of  Children  is  Twelve. 
..t  Vid,  Mr.  Sergeant's  Scheme,  and  the  Letter  annexed,  referred  to. 


Cf  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.  1  19  ; 

I  very  much  approve  of,  and  the  more  fo,  becanfe  it  ap 
pears  to  me,  as  if  he  had  truly  no  private,  or  peufonal 
Intereft  in  View  -,  but  only  the  Honour  of  his  great 
Matter,  and  the  beft  Welfare  of  the  poor  Heathen,  whom 
the  FATHER  gave  him,  for  his  Inheritance,  and  therefore 
I  heartily  wifh  it  Succefs,  and  hope  the  Difficulties  in 
railing  Money  to  carry  on  fuch  an  Affair,  may  be  fur- 
mounted. 

I  have  been  expedling  every  Day  fince  you  fent  it  to 
me,  to  hear  of  fome  Subfcriptions  going  forward  on  that 
Account,  but  hear  nothing  of  any  fuch  Thing  at  prefent. 

I  would  therefore  humbly  propofe  that  a  Sheet  of  Paper, 
or  two,  may  be  ftitched  up  at  the  End  of  one,  or  more  of 
thofe  printed  Letters,  and  a  generous  Subfcription  began, 
by  a  few  well  difpofed  Gentlemen  of  Bqfton,  and  handed 
about  from  one  to  another,  to  try  what  may  be  done  that 
Way  *,  and  there  every  Subfcriber  at  one  View  may  fee 
the  honefl  Defign,  and  judge  of  its  Necefiity,  and  acl: 
accordingly. 

I  cannot  help  thinking  the  generous  BenefaRions  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hollis^  and  his  juft  Obfervation  of  the  Inadtivi- 
ty  of  a  People  of  fuch  Name  for  Religion  as  we  in  New- 
England^  in  fuch  an  Affair,  will  put  many  to  the  Blufh, 
and  perhaps  fpur  them  on  to  a  bountiful  Liberality  in  this 
Scheme. 

I  am  no  ways  qualified  for  a  Leader  my  felf,  but  would 
willingly  follow  a  few  Gentlemen,  who  would  be  more 
likely  to  give  it  a  Reputation  and  Currency,  with  my 

Subfcription  of Pounds,  and  would  ufe  my  fmall 

Ability  to  promote  it,  but  it  muft  be  fome  how  or  other 
fet  a-going,  which  when  once  well  done,  may  be  eafily* 
kept  alive  and  in  Motion  :  I  have  a  great  deal  of  Faith 
that  fornething  of  this  Nature  may  be  attended  with  Sue- 
cefs,  if  put  into  fuch  Hands,  as  mall  be  fpirited  for  it, 
and  will  not  be  weary  in  Well  doing  ;  but  ftir  up  them- 
felves  and  others,  with  a  well  tempered  Zeal,  mixed  with 
Prudence,  fo  as  to  give  no  Offence  to  any  that  do-  not 
think  exadly  as  they  do  -y  .and  by  fuch  a  Behaviour,  fome 

who 


12,0  ttt  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

who  may  not  be-fo  well  inclined  at  one  Time,  may  be 
very  well  difpofed  at  another,  to  an  handfom  Subi'cription. 

But  this  Method  notwithftanding,  I  hope  it  will  not  be 
thought  amifs  to  have  a  Brief  from  Authority  (if  Need 
be)  procured,  and  promoted  in  every  Church  in  this  Pro 
vince,  to  collect  what  well  difpofed  People  would  be 
ready  to  give  to  encourage  an  Affair  of  this  Importance  ; 
and  if  before  the  Collection,  thofe  two  Letters  mould 
Jbe  read,  I  am  humbly  of  Opinion,  it  would  not  be  im- 
ipertinent 

If  we  really  believe,  the  admirable  Charms  you  men 
tion  at  the  Clofe  of  your  Letter,  have  any  Reality  in 
them,  as  I  am  apt  to  think  they  have,  viz.  "  That  a 
right  liberal  Heart  and  Hand,  no  Tongue  can  fully  fpeak 
it !  or  enough  celebrate  it !  Unfpeakable  is  the  Good 
done  to  the  World  by  it !  Unfpeakable  is  the  Glory  re 
dounding  to  the  Name  of  CHRIST  from  it  !  And  alfo 
the  Good  to  ourfelves  in  it,  and  from  it,  is  unfpeakable, 
both  through  the  Life  that  now  is,  and  in  that  which  is 
to  come  !  Only  the  Day  of  CHRIST  can  reveal  the  Glo 
ries  and  Joys  awaiting  it  through  a  blefled  Eternity."  — 
I  fay,  if  thefe  wonderful  Truths  are  duly  thought  of,  this 
pious  Scheme  of  Mr.  Sergeant's,  will  not,  cannot  fall  to 
the  Ground  for  Want  of  Money  to  carry  it  on,  and  fup- 
port  it  from  Time  to  Time  :  I  pray  God  to  ftrengthcn 
our  Faith  in  them. — I  entreat  an  Intereft  in  your  Prayers, 
and  do  aflfure  you  I  am  with  great  Efteern  and  Refpect, 

Dear  Sir, 

Your  very  much  obliged, 
humble  Servant, 

N.  5.  "  I  think  it  my  Duty  to  make  the  moft  publick 
Excufe,  for  the  Freedom  I  have  taken  with  my  honoura 
ble  'Friend,  in  publishing  -his  Letter,  excellent  as  it  is  in  it 
felf,  without  his  Leave  \  and  alfo  to  inform  him  and  the 
Publick,  that  a  Book  will  lie  ready  at  my  .Houfe>  and  at  the 
Shops  of  Major  Henchman,  Capt,  John  Phillips,  and  Mr. 

Twi 


Of  Dr.    B  E   N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.  121 

Jofeph  Edwards,  with  Blank  Leaves  annexed,  for  taking 
in  Subfcriptions,  or  if  it  be  defired,  by  Perfons  in  other 
Towns,  any  where  through  the  Province,  that  like  Books 
be  fent  to  them  for  the  fame  End,  they  {hall  be  fent. 

Bevj.  Colman. 

Part  of  a  Letter  from  the   Rev.  Mr.  Sergeant  to 

Dr.  Colman. 
"  Rev,  Sir, 

Your  Care  and  Pains  under  the   Decays   and 

Feeblenefs  of  Age,  to  promote  the  Defign  of  my  Letter, 
I  accept  with  all  Thankfulnefs. 

Yefterday,  we  of  the  Englijh  Families,  with  tf^^{Tift. 
ance  of  two  Strangers  happening  to  be  here,  collectecf  by 
Subfcription  One  Hundred  and  Fifteen  Pounds  Ten  Shillings 
toward  our  propofed  School. 

I  then  gave  the  Indians  fome  Account  of  what  was 
doing  for  them,  and  they  appeared  very  thankful  :  And 
this  Morning  fent  a  MefTenger  to  me  to  know  where  the 
Houfe  was  to  be  erected,  with  the  Offer  of  their  Aflift- 
ance  in  clearing  a  Spot  of  Land  for  forwarding  the  Defign. 

May  He  that  is  the  Staff  and  Stay  of  the  Aged,  be 
flill  your  Support  &c. 

Stockbridge,  Nov.  25.   1743." 

Many  more  Letters  and  fome  of  a  great  Length,  were 
written  by  him  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hollis,  and  to  Mr.  Ser 
geant,  and  others,  to  promote  this  benevolent  and  chrifti- 
an  Defign,  and  I  would  hope  that  this  Record  may  great 
ly  ferve  it  by  the  Will  of  God. 

He  held  a  long  and  mofl  agreable  Correfpondence 
with  the  Rev.  and  learned  Dr.  White  Kennett,  Bifhop  of 
Peterborough,  which  was  begun  and  ended  with  an  intire 
View  to  the  Services  of  Truth  and  Religion  ;  and  his 
Letters  were  fometimes  carried  to  the  Lord  Bijhop  of 
London  who  difcourfed  with  Dr.  Kennett  upon  them  (  as 
he  informed  him  )  to  the  fruftrating  fome  Attempts  of 
the  High-Church  Mijflionaries  here  — 

R  A 


122          ?be  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

A  Copy  of  his  firft  Letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  White  Ken- 
nett,  Dean  of  Peterborough,  afterward  Lord  Bijhop^  whkh 
introduced  him  into 'a  happy,  pleafantand  profitable  Cor> 
refpondence  with  him  to  the  Day  of  his  Death. 

"  Rev.  Sir,.  Bofton  November  1712. 

I  am  altogether  a  Stranger  to  you,  and  mud  needs  be 
unknown^  for  my  Name  is  much  too  little  to  have  been 
heard  of  by  Perfons  of  your  Dignity  in  the  EftablMhed 
Church  : 

But  meeting  with  your  excellent  Sermon  preached  be 
fore  the  Honourable  and  moft  Reverend  Society  for  the 
propagating  of  the  Gofpel  in  Foreign  Parts,  on  Friday, 
Febr.  15.  1711,12.  I  cannot  forbear  afking  your  Leave 
to  f jjtibyou  my  Thoughts  upon  an  admirable  PafTage  I 
fincrtherein,  p.  22. 

"  Neither  our  own  People  in  thofe  Parts,  nor  their 
<e  Affrican  Slaves,  nor  their  Indian  Neighbours  have  ought 
"  to  accufe  us  of.  At  lead  we  have  given  no  juft-  Of- 
"  fenct  to  the  Gentiles  there,  nor  to  the  Church  of  God. 
"  We  truft  we  have  not  finned  againft  the  Brethren^  and 
"  have  walked  honeftly  toward  them  that  are  without. 
"  We  give  our  Money,  our  Attendance,  our  Correfpon- 
"  dence,  our  feveral  Sorts  of  Care,  Pains  and  Trouble  : 
"  Forgive  us  this  Wrong  :  If  we  have  done  any  other  ; 
"  God  do  fo  to  us  and  more  alfo." 

Sir,  there  is  fuch  an  Air  of  Sincerity  in  thefe  Words, 
that  I  cannot  but  have  a  perfect  Efteem  of  the  good  and 
truly  noble  Spirit  breathed  in  them.  I  doubt  not  but  you 
fully  believe  as  you  fpeak,  and  are  accepted  by  God  in 
your  pious  Defircs  of  ferving  the  Interefts  of  Religion  in 
thefe  remote  Parts  of  the  Earth.  I  greatly  honour  the^ 
Intentions  of  your  moft  honourable  Society^  their  abundant 
Labours  and  Ex  pence. 

U  About  this  Tims  fome  of  the  Clergy  in  England  made  the  moft 
movipg  Diicourfes  to  excite  the  abufed  People's  Charity,  by -telling 
them  what  vaft  Numbers  of  poor  Heathen,  have  been  brought  by  their 
Mifllonaries,  from  worfliipping  the  Devil  to  th$  Knowledge  of,  God. 
, to  a- Gentleman  vv;o:e-to  Mr.  Cchinx* 

A 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N.  !  2  3 

A  more  noble  Charity  never  was  projected  than  your 
fending  the  Gofpel  among  the  Heathen  here,  and  into  Hea- 
theni/h  Places,  where  the  Settlements  have  been  made 
void  of  the  Form  of  Religion  :  The  Harveft  of  this 
Nature  is  too  plenteous  through  Virginia,  Maryland,  the 
Jerfies,  our  Eaflern  Country  alfo,  and  the  Narraganfet, 
and  fome  Places  about  Rhode-IJland,  which  have  been  too 
long  neglefted  and  fuffered  to  run  wild  into  Sectaries,  and 
Prejudices  againft  any  Miniftry  of  the  Word  at  all. 

This  vaft  and  wafle  Space,  defolate  and  perifhing,  cries 
aloud  to  you  for  your  charitable  Care  ;  and  verily  the 
Fund  which  the  Society  has  contributed  and  gathered  is 
but  too  little  yet  by  far  for  thefe  neceffitous  Places  ^ 
while  at  the  fame  Time  many  of  your  Miffions  into  our 
Parts  are  unto  Places  where  the  Gofpel  is  received  and 
preached,  and  Churches  gathered  in  very  good  Order  and 
Manner. 

I  had  my  Birth  in  Boflon,  my  Education  at  our  Cam* 
bridge  ;  yet  I  have  feen  your  Oxford  and  Cambridge,  and 
fpent  twelve  Weeks  together  at  the  latter  ;  near  two 
Years  alfo  at  London,  and  two  more  at  Bath,  fent  thither 
by  the  Prejbyterian  Board  at  London.  And  I  blefs  God 
that  in  this  my  Abfence  from  my  own  Country,  I  did  but 
grow  in  the  natural  Inclination  I  had  to,  and  in  the  gene 
rous  Principles  of  an  enlarged  catholick  Spirit  cherifhed  in 
me  by  my  Tutor,  Mr.  Lever  eft  -,  now  Prefident  of  Har- 
swJ-College  : —  And  if  I  am  able  to  judge,  no  Place 
of  Education  can  well  boaft  a  more  free  Air  than  our  lit 
tle  College  may.  This  I  fay,  to  let  you  fee  I  would  pre 
tend  to  be  as  impartial  and  without  Prejudice,  as  is  pof- 
fible  in  this  our  imperfect  State. —  Neverthelefs  I  cannot 
but  let  you  know  my  Thoughts,  that  the  Reverend  and 
Honourable  Society  have  been  once  and  again  mifled,  and 
even  impofed  on  by  Mifinformations,  and  private  De- 
figns  and  Interefts,  of  Perfons  and  Parties  here,  to  mif- 
pend  fand  fo  neceflarily  pervert)  great  Portions  of  their 
noble  Charity,  to  fuch  Ends  and  in  fuch  Manner  as  do  not 
<at  all  anfwer  the  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel  among  us,  but 

which 


124        ***  LIFE  and   CHARACTER 

which  do  really  break  in  upon  and  hinder  the  fpreading 
and  Succeis  of  it.  To  evince  which,  I  will  fairly  put  the 
Cafe  and  offer  an  Inftance  or  two. 

You  mud  give  me  Leave,  Sir,  to  fuppofe  a  'Town  and 
Towns  here  wherein  Religion  is  fettled,  Minifters  legally 
fixed,  the  Word  of  God  faithfully  preached,  and  the  Sa-. 
craments  of  Chrift  adminiftred  ;  and  yet  there  happen  a 
difcontented  Perfon  or  two  in  the  Place  ;  or  fome  Dif 
ference  about  the  placing  anew  Houfe  forpublick  Wor- 
Ihip,  or  about  paying  their  little  Rate  to  the  Miniftry, 
or  the  like  :  Immediately  they  are  advifed,  or  of  their 
own  Mind  they  propofe  to  themfelves,  "  Let  us  fend 
over  to  the  Lord  Bijhop  of  London,  or  to  the  honourable 
Society  for  propagating  the  Gofpel,  for  a  Minifter  of  the 
Church  of  England !  he  will  bring  a  Salary  of  Fifty 
Pounds  Sterling,  which  is  as  good  as  a  120  £.  our  Cur 
rency  ;  a  Maintenance  far  fuperior  to  any  Ones,  if  not 
every  One,  in  any.  Country-Town  in  New-England"  — 
Now  fuppofe,  Sir,  they  actually  fend  and  obtain  ;  I  de 
mand — Whether  it  be  not  a  real  Injury  and  Abufe  of  the 
Society  and  their  Charity  ;  their  declared  End,  and  the 
proper  Ufe  of To  great  a  Gift  as  Fifty  Pounds  per  Annum  is? 

— Yet  are  there  feveral  fuch  notorious  Inftances  in  our 
New-Engli/h  Provinces.  One  was  lately  in  the  Town  of 
Braintree,  within  ten  Miles  of  Bofton,  which  Application 
to  you  the  Rev.  Mr.  Miles  of  Bofton  refufed  to  counte 
nance  •,  and  was  free  to  fay,  that  were  the  Circumftances 
of  the  Place  known,  my  Lord  of  London  and  the  Society 
would  never  approve  of  it  :  For  it  is  a  notorious  Matter 
of  Fact,  that  fetting  afide  two  Families  in  that  Party  at 
Braintree,  the  Reft  neither  know  why  they  fought  the 
Cburch-Worjhip  there,  nor  could  be  any  Credit  to  it  : 
Their  Number  was  fo  very  minute,  and  their  Character 
fo  very  mean,  that  when  a  Minifter  was  fent  to  them,  he 
was  ajhamed  of  his  Errand,  and  diverted  to  fome  other 
Place  of  Service. 

This  laft  Year  a  Difference  happened  in  the  Town  of 
•Newbury  about  placing  their  Meeting- Houfe  :  The  Matter 

was 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  M  A  N.  125, 

was  brought  before  our  General  Court ',  who  determined  it 
according  to  the  free  Vote  and  Adi  of  the  Precinff, 
whereby  they  had  obliged  themfelves  to  each  other  : 
Whereupon  a  Number  of  them  declare  themfelves  for 
the  Church  of  England  -,  many  of  them  I  will  fuppofe 
Perfons  of  Sobriety  and  Virtue,  only  in  a  Pett,  and  to 
fave  their  Rate  to  their  aged  and  worthy  Minifter  Mr. 
Belcher  •,  utterly  ignorant  of  the  Church  they  declare 
for,  nor  offended  in  the  lead  with  the  Form  of  Worihip 
or  Difcipline  which  they  turn  from  ;  and  as  wide  herein 
from  their  Old  Paftcr's  Spirit  and  Principles,  which  are  as 
catholick  as  can  well  be  found  among  Minifters  of  any 
Denomination  ;  being  till  now  among  the  moft  narrow 
and  rigid  Diflenters,  who  would  before  this  have  difown- 
ed  me  in  particular,  for  the  Ufe  of  the  Lord's- Prayer, 
reading  the  Scriptures  and  a  freer  Admiffion  to  ihz  Lord's 
fable,  than  has  been  generally  pradlifed  in  thefe  Churches. 

To  name  no  more, —  Your  Miffion  to  the  Town  of 
'Jamaica  upon  Long-IJland  near  New-Tork,  was  really  a 
great  Breach  on  the  Law  of  Juftice  and  Chanty  ;  if  your 
Honourable  Society  could  have  feen  into  the  Rife  and 
Spring  of  it.  Mr.  Hubbard  and  the  People  there  were 
unrighteoufly  difpoflefled  of  the  Church  and  Miniftty 
Houfe  and  Lands  \  which  the  Town  had  built  and  given 
for  the  Worfhip  of  God  after  the  Way  of  the  Diffenters 
from  the  Church  of  England'.  When  therefore  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Gordon  (the  Glory  of  the  Mijfion  hitherto  that  we 
have  feen)  in  1702  came  thither,  he  was  greatly  furprized 
inftead  of  fome  Place  to  gofpelize,  to  find  a  worthy  Mi- 
mfler  on  the  Place  ejedted,  and  the  greater  Part  of  the 
grieved  Inhabitants  cleaving  to  him  :  Mr.  Hubbard  and 
he  lived  a  few  Months  in  perfedl  Harmony  and  Efteem 
of  each  other,  and  then  God  called  for  the  precious  Life 
of  Mr.  Gordon,  whom  Mr.  Hubbard  vifited  and  prayed 
with  dying9  and  mourned  when  dead,  and  did  not  long 
furvive  him.  •-, .;  . 

In  fhort,  Sir,  there  is  one  fordid  Motive  which  will- 
find  you  Beggars  enough  for  your  Charity  in  our  Country 

Towns! 


LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Towns  !  if  you  will  free  them  fromRates  to  any  Miniflry 
and  maintain  it  for  them.  But  I  am  fure  your  Honourable 
Society  never  meant  to  minifter  to  ftich  aDifpofitionin  any. 

In  this  Confidence  I  have    freely  written   to  you, 

and  intreat  your  Candour.  I  hare  been  ever  wifhing  for 
a  Comprebenfion,  and  do  but  grow  thefe  lafl  Years  in  my 
Opinion  of  Occafional  Conformity,  the  more  it  has  been 
branded  for  Hypocrify.  I  cannot  think  the  Churches  U- 
nity  lies  in  Uniformity  in  every  Mode  of  Worfhip  or  Dif- 
dpline,  but  in  hearty  Charity  and  Efteem,  teftified  by 
Occafional  Communion,  under  a  fmall  Diverfity  of  Ad- 
miniftration  and  Difcipline. 

— But  I  forget  my  felf, —  I  preach, —  and,  to  Whom  ? 
Sir,  improve  not  what  I  write  to  any  Hurt,  if  it  can  ferve 
to  no  Good.  I  have  no  Quarrel  with  any,  nor  am  will 
ing  to  be  brought  into  a  Controverfy. — I  accufe  not  your 
Society,  far  be  it  from  me  ;  but  mean  only  a  private  In 
formation.  You  will  beft  judge,  Sir,  if  there  be  no  Of 
fence  to  the  Church  of  God,  in  the  Steps  taken  by  too 
many,  here  and  there.  I  perfectly  believe  you  would 
not  willingly  fin  againft  us.  Your  Money,  Time,  Cares^ 
Pains  are  a  mighty  Charity  which  God  will  reward.  The 
Lord  recompence  it  to  you  in  his  Grace,  Mercy  and  Peace. 
I  am  Sir,  Your  moft  humble, 

And  obedient  Servant, 

Benj.  Colman" 

The  Rev.  Dean  was  fo  good  andjuft  as  to  anfwer  to  the 
foregoing  Letter,  and  many  others  wrote  to  him  by  Mr, 
Colman,  expreffingin  them  all  the  higheft  Efteem  for  him, 
and  often  fubfcribes  himfelf  your  affectionate  Friend  and 
Brother. 

The  ANSWER. 

"  Rev.  Sir,  Sept.  15.  1713: 

Though  I  feem  negligent  in  my  due  Acknowledgment 
for  yours  of  November  1712,  yet  among  private  Friends, 
I  have  often  expreflfed  my  Satisfaftion  in  the  Senfe,  Stile 
and  Temper  of  it  ;  and  I  now  heartily  accept  fuch  a 
Correfpondence,  and  wifh  the  Continuance  of  it,  for  the 

Sake 


•f  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  I2y 

Sake  of  our  common  Caufe  of  Charity  to  Souls,  and  of 
Zeal  to  our  Chriftian  Religion. 

I  was  under  a  great  Temptation  of  communicating  your 
Letter  to  a  General  Meeting  of  our  Society  ;  that  I  might 
have  had  their  Inftrufiions  for  an  Anfwer  to  the  Particu 
lars  contained  in  it. —  But  then  I  thought  my  felf  re- 
ftrained  by  fome  prudent  Intimations  of  your  own  ;  and 
I  was  very  unwilling  to  draw  you  into  any  Controverfy 
or  Envy  that  too  often  attend  us  for  fpeaking  plain  Truths  : 
For  fucb  indeed  I  believe  are  the  kind  Informations  you 
give  me  relating  to  the  Places  you  mention  :  and  I  know 
you  meant  only  to  inform  us,  not  to  upbraid  or  accufe  us. 
—For  I  perceive  you  are  very  fenfible,  as  the  wifer  Part 
of  Mankind  mud  be,  under  what  Difadvantages  we  la 
bour,  as  a  Society  holding  Commerce  with  another  World; 
for  no  Gain  but  that  of  Godlinefs,  and  for  pure  Confcience 
Sake. — It  is  poffible  we  are  not  fo  intent  upon  our  Bufi- 
nefs,  as  if  it  were  for  filthy  Lucre.  We  are  not  fo  con- 
flant  in  our  Attendance  as  fecular  Companies  and  trading 
Bodies  of  Men  would  be. — We  are  lefs  exaff  in  ourCor- 
refpondence  and  Accounts,  than  if  the  dear  Liberty  and 
Property  of  this  World  depended  on  it. —  However  our 
general  Aim  is  to  purfue  our  general  Commiffion  of  plant  - 
ing  Chrijiianity  according  to  the  Church  of  England  in 
thofe  Parts  of  our  Englijh.  Plantations  where  there  is  no 
fettled  Miniftry  :  or  for  the  Benefit  of  good  Numbers  who 
cannot  in  Confcience  conform  to  the  Ways  of  Worfhip  dif 
ferent  from  our  Eflablijhed  Church. — We  think  that  thefe 
two  Provinces  are  committed  to  us  :  Thefrft  chiefly  and 
primarily  as  our  original  Defign,  the  fecond*&  an  ordinary 
Confluence  of  it. —  In  the  former  we  labour  of  our  own 
Accord  ;  in  the  latter  we  have  never  put  our  Hand  but 
upon  the  Call  and  Importunity  of  People  on  your  Side 
the, Water.  If  they  call  when  they  have  no  Need,  it  is 
our  Charity  as  well  as  Credulity  to  believe  them.  If  they 
mifreprefent  Things  to  us,  we  muft  ftill  take  them  for 
granted  for  Want  of  better  Information.  Nay,  and  if 
different  Accounts,  be  given,,  we  are  apt  to  be  partial  in 

WJE 


fh  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

our  receiving  or  rejefting,  for  foms   Refpeft  or  other. 

I  dare  allure  you  the  Cafe  was  thus  in  all  thofe  particu 
lar  Places  you  mention.  We  were  not  forward  to  ob 
trude  our  Chanty,  and  had  no  Ambition  to  extend  our 
Power  and  Care  beyond  our  Line  ;  but  the  Motions  be 
gan  from  the  refpective  Places  ;  we  only  yielded  to  the 
Requefts  of  others  ;  and  if  they  impofe  upon  our  Igno 
rance  at  fo  great  a  Diftance,  they  are  to  Blame  ;  and 
much  the  more  if  they  gratify  their  own  Paffions  and  act 
to  ferve  their  own  Interefts  by  it. 

If  we  proceed  upon  MisJake  in  fuch  Cafes,  Sincerity 
and  good  Intention  is  a  Plea  and  Defence^  which  we  hope 
God  will  accept  ;  and  our  Neighbours  forgive  us,  if  we 
have  done  them  any  Harm. 

To  Ton  dear  Sir,  if  I  can  judge  by  the  Spirit  of  one 
fingle  Letter,  I  need  make  no  other  Apology  :  You  have 
Senfe  and  Largenefs  of  Soul  to  make  Allowances  for 
greater  Faults  :  And  if  God  by  his  Grace  do  not  prevent 
us,  upon  our  conftant  Prayers  to  him  ;  and  if  he  do  not 
continually  dirett  and  preferve  us,  we  mufl  needs  fall 
into  them. 

It  is  our  being  ml/informed  and  mifguided  in  fome 
"Ways,  that  increafes  our  Defires  of  having  Bijhops  fettled 
in  thofe  foreign  Parts  committed  to  our  Care  -,  that  they 
may  jttdge'better  of  things  and  Perfons  within  their  own 
View  :  One  on  the  I/lands,  and  another  on  the  Continent. 
- — But  alas,  there  is  fo  much  of  an  Ecclejiafiical  and  of  a 
•Civil  Nature  in  this  Affair,  and  fuch  a  Concurrency  required 
here  at  Home  and  Abroad,  that  what  IfTue  it  may  come 
to  we  are  yet  uncertain, —  And  whether  at  this  Juntturs 
we  mould  make  a  fit  Choice  of  difcreet  Men  for  this  Of 
fice  ;  I  dare  not  pretend  to  guefs. — I  hope  your  Churches 
\vould  not  be  jealous  of  it,  they  being  out  of  our  Line, 
and  therefore  beyond  the  Cognizance  of  any  Overfiers  to 
be  fent  from  hence.  What  T/V»*may  do,  with  theSpiric 
of  Knowledge  and  Charity  to  make  the  Englim  in  America 
al  1  of  one  Heart,  and  of  one  Way  of  Difcipline  and 
Wprfhip,  I  recommend  toyour  Prayers,  and  add  my  own. 

I 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN."  120 

V  ,7 

I  can  anfwer  for  my  own  Confcience^  that  from  the  'Be 
ginning  of  our  Society ',  I  have  afted  as  a  Member  of  it  upon 
the  Principle  of  doing  Good.  I  have  been  at  fome  La 
bour,  and  have  not  grudged  fome  little  Expence,  in  pick 
ing  up  the  Beginning  of  a  Library  for  the  Ufe  of  our 
Corporation,  &c. — And  I  am  very  glad  to  bear  from  our 
very  fenfible  Friend  Mr.  Dummer  that  a  Library-is  going 
on  in  Lofton,  to  which  I  fend  by  his  Care  fome  Tracts,&c. 

Our  exchanging  (Sir)  the  good  Offices  of  common 
Charity  and  a  publick  Spirit,  will  help  much  under  God's 
Eleffing  to  enlarge  our  Under/landings  and  our  Affeftions 
alfo  to  each  other  •,  and  fo  to  meet  nearer  upon  Earth, 
and  infeparably  in  Heaven.  Let  thefe  be  our  mutual 
Prayers  and  Endeavours. 

I  am,  dear  Sir, 
Your  affectionate  Friend  and  Brother," 

London )  Sept.  15.  1712. 

White  Kennett:\ 

i>f»fl  ' 

Part  of  another  Letter  dated  July  28.  1716,  is  printed 
in  the  Life  of  Bifhop  Kennett,  of  which  the  Compiler  fays, 
it  is  Pity  it  fliould  be  buried  with  him.  And  as  he  has 
given  it  a  Place  in  the  Bifhop's  Life  for  an  Entertainment 

to  his  Readers,  it  is  here  alfo  inferted To  which  I 

ftiall  take  the  Liberty  to  add  fome  Paffages  out  of  others 
that  are  now  before  me. 
•  iU  CY;J  • 

<c  Dear  Sir, 

^  ••  My  Thoughts  reprove  me  often  for  not  being  more 
civil  to  a  Stranger,  rather  to  a  Friend  and  Correfpondent, 
whom,  by  all  that  I  have  read  and  heard  of  him,  I  have 
good  Reafon  to  value  and  efteem.  My  Thanks  have 
been  long  due  for  the  Books  you  fent  over  to  improve 
our  American  Library,  which  is  not  yet  difpofed  in  a  pro 
per  Place,  for  Want  of  fome  fpecial  Benefactor,  but  I  am 
adding  what  I  can  to  the  Number  of  Tracts  futable  to 
the  Arguments  of  Navigation,  &ev  and  doubt  not  -(if 
God  fpare  a  few  Years)  to  make  it  a  Collection  not  un- 

S  worthy 


i.3o        ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 
•m  snt  mo  !  JM(I  ViWmw)  nwo 


worthy  the  good  Defign.*  —  That  good  Defign,oF  pro 
pagating  Chriftianity  in  your  Parts,  has  loft  the  wifeft  Di 
rector  and  Prefident  of  it,  the  late  Arch-Bifhop  of  Can 
terbury^  r(Dr.  tfenifon)  whofe  Aim  and  Care  in  thofe  Mat- 
tera  (as;ia  all  others  J  were  guided  by  a  truly  Chriftian 
•Spirit  for  the  publick  Good  of  the  Proteftant  Religion, 
he  put  a  Stop  to  many  indirect  Motions  and  Steps  made 
to  put  us  out  of  the  Way,  and  prevented  a  great  deal  of 
Interruption,  and  EmbarrafTment  that  would  have  been 
otherwife  given  us.  He  was  a  wife  and  honeft  Prelate,, 
truly  fenfible,  that  at  Home  and  Abroad,  we  were  in 
great  Danger  of  lofing  Chriftianity  in  the  Name  of  the 
Church. 

The  two  great  Difficulties  that  lie  hard  upon  our  So 
ciety  for  Propagation  of  the  Gofpel  are,  (i)  The  Want 
of  fober  and  religious  MifFionaries  ;  few  offering  them- 
IVtves  to  that  Service  for  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  Good 
of  Souls  j  but  chiefly  to  find  a  Refuge  from  Poverty  and 
Scandal.'  (2)  Such  Men  when  they  come  to  the  Places 
allotted  them,  forget  their  Million  j  and  inftead  of  pro 
pagating  Chriftianity,  are  only  contending  for  Rites  and 
Ceremonies,  or  for  Powers  and  Privileges,  and  are  difput- 
ing  with  the  Veftries  of  every  Parim,  and  even  with  the 
civil  Government  of  every  Province.  —  Thefe  two  Mif- 
chiefs  can  hardly  be  redreffed,  but  by  fixing  Schools  and 
Univerfities  in  thofe  Parts,  and  fettling  we  hope  two  Bi^ 
ihops  ;  one  for  the  Continent,  another  for  the  Iflands3 
with  Advice  and  Afliftance  of  Prefbyters  to  ordain  fit 
Perfons,  efpecially  Natives,  to  take  Care  of  all  the  Church 
es.  Which  needful  Provifions  will  not  break  in  upon 
your  national  Rites  and  Cuftoms,  at  leaft  no  other  Way 
than  by  laying  a  Foundation  (we  will  hope,  and  you  will 
agree)  for  the  Union  of  all  Proteftants  in  forne  future 
Age,  when  Charity  and  Peace  ihall  prevail  above  Intereft 
and  Paflion. 

_  _  _^___-  •HHWMMvi 

*  This  relates  to  an  AEiir,  which  is  mentioned  more  folly  after 
wards,  in  the  Bifliop's  Life. 

TTT 

We 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N.  131 

-»  '«>-  U  stji?  .<.£! 

We  have  no  great  Profpect,  I  confefs,  of  fuch  Hap- 
•pinefs  in  our  Old  England,  where  the  Spirit  of  Diflfention 
and  Fadtion,  nay,  of  the  utmqft  Infatuation,  has  raged 
horribly,  and  is  not  yet  cad  out.  I  think  I  faw  long  fince, 
that  the  Beginnings  of  this  Sorrow  were  the  Seeds  of  Po 
pery  fcattered  in  the  Minds  of  common  People,with  ftrange 
Induftry  and  Art,  to  fmooth  the  Way  for  a  Popi/b  Pre 
tender.  Noife  and  Norifenfe  were  very  prevailing,  and 
at  laft  the  Word  given  out  was,  /  had  rather  be  a  Pa* 
ptft  than  a  Prejbyterian  ;  and  under  this  delirious  Cant, 
the  poor  Souls  were  prepared  to  cry  out,  The  Church,  the 
Church,  as  loud  as  if  they  had  been  in  the  Streets  of  Romey 
and  to  idolize  a  feditious,  not  to  fay  ignorant  Doctor  ; 
as  much  as  if  he  had  been  a  Pope  of  this  other  World. 

The  People  in  this  Ferment  were  difpofed  to  read  and 
admire  the  daily  Pamphlets,  thrown  about  to  reconcile 
them  more  and  more  to  Popery,  under  Pretences  of  di 
vine  and  hereditary  Rights,  uninterrupted  Succejfion,  inde« 
pendant  State  of  the  Church,  the  Expediency  and  even 
Neceffity  of  private  Confeffion,  the  immediate  Effects  of 
facerdotal  Absolution,  the  Invalidity  of  Baptifm  out  of 
Epifcopal  Communion,  a  Prieft,  an  Altar,  a  real  Sacrifice 
in  the  LordVSupper,  a  middle  State  of  Souls,  no  Harm, 
at  leaft,  in  Prayers  for  the  Dead,  and  many  other  Devifes,, 
approaching  as  near  to  Rome  as  prefent  Shame  and  Safety- 
would  admit. 

All  thefe  Conceits  you  well  know,  fprung  as  Tares  of 
the  Enemy,  long  after  our  blefTed  Reformation,  and  I 
think  never  appeared  'till  a  little  before  the.  Beginning  of 
the  Civil  Wars,  under  the  Influence  of  a  Court  that  had 
too  much  of  the  Popifh  Queen  in  it,  and  were  now  re 
vived  to  ferve  no  other  Purpofe  but  that  of  the  Interest 
of  a  Popifh  Impoflor.  Only  there  was  fome  Difference 
in  the  Times  •,  for  before  thofe  Civil  Wars,  none  ran  into 
thofe  Notions  but  fome  of  the  warmer  a^d  ambitious 
Clergy  ;  whereas  now  the  common  People  and  the  very 
Women  had  their  Heads  full  of  them. 

Under  thefe  Deiufions.  a  Multitude  have  been  giver? 

no 


132          n*  LIFE*^CHARACTER 

up  to  believe  the  Idol  zt.  Avignon  to  be  fomething,  and 
worthy  to  be  fet  up  ;  given  #/>,  alas  !  to  any  Lies,  and'  to 
the  Practice  of  many  Popifli  Superftitions.  Some  would 
not  go  to  their  Seats  in  the  Church  'till  they  had  kneeled 
and  prayed  at  the  Rails  of  the  Communion-Table  ; 
they  would  not  be  content  to  receive  the  Sacrament  there 
kneeling,  but  with  Proftration  and  (Inking  of  the  Breaft, 
and  kifiing  of  the  Ground,  as  if  there  were  an  Hoft  to  be 
adored  ;  they  began  to  think  the  Common-Prayer  without 
a  Sermon  (  at  lead  Afternoon  )  to  be  the  bed  way  of 
lerving  God  ;  and  Churches  without  Organs  had  the 
thinner  Congregations  •,  bidding  of  Prayer,  was  thought 
better  than  praying  to  God,  and  even  Pictures  about  the 
Altar  began  to  be  the  Books  of  the  Vulgar  ;  the  Meeting- 
Houfes  of  Proteftant  Diflenters  were  thought  to  be  more 
defiled  Places  than  Popifh  Chappels  :  In  fhort,  the 
Herd  of  People  were  running  towards  Rome  without 
any  Forefight,  or  Power  of  looking  backward. 

To  this  Madnefs.  of  the  People  was  the  Rebellion 
owing  i  now  one  is  quelled,  the  other  will  abate  ;  and 
our  greateft  Deliverance  under  King  George,  will  be  that 
cf  our  being  delivered  from  our  f  elves  ^  ,  and  being  reftored 
not  only  to  .our  Religion  and  Liberties  but.  to  our 
-- 


My  Relpecls  and  beft  Services  to  you  and  your  Bre 
thren,  and  efpecially  to  the  worthy  Prefident  of  Harvard1- 
College  -  Let  us  join  our  Prayers  for  the  King's  fafe 
Return  and  long  Life,  and  for  the  Progrefs  of  Chriftia- 
nity,  and  an  Increafe  of  the  Proteftant  Religion. 
-TI  wo.,  •  I'™,  dear  Sir,  your  affeaionate  Friend, 


u    r.  Kefinttt' 
-mc    2»w  *»flj  vhfj  -.-     ,  ,. 

ub    Marcb  ^  I7l6>1?' 

ij'rr.s   b^s  v3i"cnf;'/f  ai)  lo,  a-i^'i  »ii/<>»£i  L 

—  After,  having  wrote  largely  of  the  Fooleries  (  as  he 

ftiles  them  )  of  the  High-Church  -  He  adds  "  And 
you  have  Senfe  enough  to  let  me  tell  you  as  a.  very 
(Charitable  Friend  that  there  is  fomewhat  of  a  like  wrong 

Spirit. 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  Go  LM-A-N? 

Spirit  among  our  Diffenting  Brethren  or  the  Body  of  them. 
The  good  old  Tendernefs  of  Conference  is  vifibly  abated, 
the  ftridt  Regard  to  Sobriety  and  Temperance  is  very- 
much  altered  •,  the  keeping  up  Family  Prayers  and  Fear 
of  God  in  Children  and  Servants  is  wearing  offapace,  Bi 
bles  are  lefs  read,  and  Sabbaths  lefs  obferved,&c.  In  fhort, 
they  are  very  foon  gone  off  from  the  good  old  Puritans 
who  had  certainly  a  more  fober  Deportment,  and  a  more 
feribus  Senfe  of  Religion  and  Devoutnefs  in  them. 

And  this  Degeneracy  at  a  Time  when  they  have  been 
in  gpeateft  Danger  and  ought  to  have  been  moft  upon 
their  Guard  of  Piety  and  Prudence.  For  whereas  the  good 
eld  Puritans  were  all  along  popular  and  well-belov'd  upon 
the  juft  Reputation  of  being  a  fober  godly  Party,  (who 
fpoke  better  and  lived  better  than  moft  of  their  Neigh 
bours  :  It  fo  happens  on  the  contrary  (  God  knoweth  how) 
that  our  Diffenters  of  late  have  hfad  the  common  Cry 
againft  them  :  the  Laws  could  hardly  protect  them,  the 
Government  almoft  afraid  to  defend  them,  and  if  the  Bi- 
fhops  and  Clergy  whom  they  call  the  Low-Church,  would 
have  fell  into  that  Stream  of  Prejudice  againft  them  they 
had  been  driven  (  as  the  Wind  and  Tide  have  long  fat) 
into  a  State  of  Perfecution  and  the  utmoft  Defertion  •, 
wherein  the  Body  of  the  Clergy  and  People  would  have 
thought  they  had  done  God  good  Service. 

And  yet  the  Diffenters  (  perhaps  to  a  Man,)  have  had 
one  of  the  greateft Merits,  that  of  being  true  to^  their  Coun 
try,  and  to  the  Ballance  of  Europe,  always  well  affected 
to  the  Proteftant  Succefiion,  and  very  faithful  Subjects  of 
King  George,  and  firm  Adherents  to  his  Royal  Family  :  An 
Advantage  that  one  would  think  might  before  this  Time 
have  been  improved  to  their  Security  and  Honour  : 
And  fo  undoubtedly  it  would  have  been  if  they  had  fol 
lowed  the  Steps  of  the  good  old'  Puritans,  and  had  onee 
more  the  Efteem  of  a  peaceable  and  religious  People  ; 
if  they  had  been  really  ready  to  join  with  the  moderate 
Biftiops  and  Clergy,  and  had  complained  only  of  Innova 
tions  unknown  to  the  firftHcforraers,  requiring  only  fome 

few 


tte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

few  Conceffions  to  be  made  to  them,  fhewing  themfelves 
truly  tender  of  the  Peace  and  Unity  of  the  Church  and 
State,  and  always  more  zealous  for  a  good  Life  and  good 
Worlds  than  for  any  other  Matter  of  Contention. 
Such  a  Spirit  of  God  in  a  dill  Voice  will  at  fome  Provi 
dential  Time  or  other  heal  all  our  Breaches,  and  fruftrate 
the  Hopes  of  the  Common  Enemy. 

You  fee  how  freely  and  heartily  I  fet  down  my  own 
prefent  Thoughts  and  Wifhes,  and  I  have  that  Opinion 
of  your  Underftanding  and  good  Confcience  that  I  cannot 
but  think  we  could  talk  over  thefe  Matters  without  any 
ilLRefentments  and  at  leaft  with  good  Will  and  Charity, 

But  I  cannot  anfwer  for  the  different  Impreffions 

upon  other  Minds,  indifpofed  with  Prejudice  and  Paf- 

I  thought  to  add  fomewhat  of  our  prefent  State  of  Af 
fairs,  but  I  referve  this  to  another  Letter. 

I  pray  God  prefer ve  us  and  amend  us  all,  for  the  Con 
tinuance  of  his  good  Providence  to  us,  and  am 

Dear  Sir,  your  very  affectionate 
$?f!im3d;}i!  Friend  and  Brother, 

Oft    ;  W.  K. 

P.  S.  I  thank  you  for  your  very  right  good  Sermon.  I 
fend  you  the  laft  of  my  publick  Exercifes."  srjf  rn'nsf 

r  i   •I>H'»  •*,'-.  jj/yff  j 

There  is  another  very  long  Letter  dated  June  5th  1 7 1 8. 
relating  to  Controverfies  on  Foot  in  Church  and  State  at 
that  Day,  which  begins  and  ends  with  fuch  friendly  Paf- 
fages  as  thefe, 

.  "  I  gladly  take  this  Opportunity  of  expref- 

fing  my  hearty  Thanks  for  your  laft,  and  my  Willingnels 
to  keep  up^  a  Correfpondence  with  one  whom  I  know  fo 
well  by  his  own  Writings  and  by  others  good  Report, 
that  I  fhould  be  glad  if  Providence  would  allow  us  a 

nearer  Converfation. 

You  fee  I  am  going  out  of  my  Depth,  by  writing  in 
a  familiar  Way  to  a  private  Friend,  fecure  that  neither  of 
us.  mean  any  Harm,  Pray  we  God  to  preferve  our  Peace 

and 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN. 

and  Profperity,   and  dear  Sir,  your   Health   and  Happi 
ntfs.         I  am  your  affe&ionate  Friend  and  Brother, 

#,.-*£<>*  W*  K" 

After  he  was  promoted  to  the  See  of  Peterborough  f  h 
was  the  fame  good  and  kind  Friend  and  Correfpondent.* 


In  a  Letter  dated  Feb.  2yth  1722,3.  He  writes, 

"  I  have  often  accufed  my  felf  of  Negligence 

(which  I  beg  you  would  not  think  a  Difrefpectj  in  not 
writing  to  you.  It  is  not  for  any  Change  of  Station,  and 
much  lefs  for  any  Alteration  of  chriftian  charitable  Sen 
timents,  but  out  of  pure  Hurry  of  Life,  and  neceflary  Ap 
plication  to  Men,  and  Things  and  Books. 1  thank 

you  for  your  very  good  Sermon  ||  on  Occafion  of  the 
Jewijh  Convert  to  Chriftianity.  I  wifh  you  would  repub- 
blifh  it  with  fome  Declaration  of  Motives  and  Reafons 
given  by  thePerfon  himfelf :  and  a  Catalogue  of  fuch 
eminent  Converts  from  Judaifm  to  our  Reformed  Reli 
gion,  as  have  been  publickly  baptized.— Here  many 
of  them  publifh  very  found  Teftimonies  of  their  real  Con- 
verfion  and  Sincerity  in  our  Faith  and  Worfhip.  I  think 
I  could  furnifh  you  with  near  an  Hundred  Inftances  out 
of  my  poor  Collections  if  you  will  make  the  feafonable  Ufe 
and  Application  of  them. 

I  was  fent  to  this  Moment  by  my  good  Neighbour 
Chamberlain  to  write  a  Line  to  you,  and  have  put  up  a 
little  Parcel  for  your  Amufement,  and  defire  you  to 
Efteem  me,  and  to  pray  for  me  as  your  very  affectionate 
Friend  and  Brother,  White  Peterborough" 

f  He  was  confecrated  Bijbop  of  Peterborough,  November  9.  1718. 
he  fucceeded  Dr.  Cumberland,  and  died  December  19th  1728. 

*  They  wrote  their  Sentiments  to  one  another  on  all  Points  Civil 
and  Ecclefiaftical  with  all  Freedom,  and  fent  their  Publications  from 
Time  to  Time. 

J  A  Difcourfe  had  in  the  College  Hall  at  Cambridge,  March  27, 
1722.  before  the  Baptifm  ,of  R.  Judab  Monis The  prefent  In- 
ftru&or  of  the  Students  in  the  Hebrew  Language  there.  Mr.  Colman 
fent  him  afterward  Mr.  Monu's  three  Difcourfes  entitled,  the  Truth,  tbe 
Truth,  and  nothing  but  the  Trufb*  Thus .  - 


136  tte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Thus  writes  this  excellent  Bifhop  who  for  his  Mode 
ration  and  good  Works  was  very  ill  treated  by  the  Jaco 
bite  Party  in  the  Nation of  whom  the  Writer  of  his 

Life  fays,  Pag.  193.  "  He  was  a  Man  of  great  Probity, 
Courage,  and  Refolution  in  the  Difcharge  of  his  Duty. 
He  lived  (efpecially  fince  the  Revolution)  in  Times  of 
great  Trial  and  Discrimination  •,  and  in  all  of  them,  he 
approved  his  fteady,  inflexible  and  fearlefs  Temper. 
The  Frowns  of  great  Men  in  Power,  could  no  more  awe 
him,  than  popular  Clamours  could  make  his  Stedfaft- 
nefs." 

I  mall  clofe  the  Account  of  this  happy  Correfpondence 
with  a  long  and  fine  Letter  of  Mr.  Colman's  to  the  good 
Br/hop  dated  December  i;th  1725, 

"  Sir, 

Mr.  Dummerm  his  laft  informs  me  that  your  Lordlhtp 
is  pleas'd  to  exprefs  your  felf  forry  that  I  have  declined 
the  Prefidentfhip  of  our  College,  to  which  the  Fellows 
chofe  me  the  laft  Year  ;  But  while  I  am  obliged  to  your 
Lordfhip's  Goodnefs  toward  me  in  that  Concern,  I  have 
to  plead  my  long  Difufe  of  Academical  Studies  and 
Exercifes,  and  alfo  that  I  am  not  well  in  the  Opinion  of 
our  Houfe  of  Representatives  of  late  Years,  on  whom  the 
Prefident  depends  for  his  Subfiftance  •,  and  they  could 
not  have  pinched  me  without  the  Chair's  fuffering  with 
me,  whidh  I  could  by  no  means  confent  itfhould  do  for 
rny  Sake. 

As  for  the  catholick  Spirit,  which  makes  your  Lord- 
Ihip  wifh  to  fee  me  in  that  honourable  Station,  I  hope  I 
may  have  fome  Pretence  to  it,  and  I  acknowledge  it  a 
very  good  Gift  and  Ornament  to  a  Perfon  otherwife 
qualified .:  But  then  (my  Lord)  it  is  the  very  Spirit  of 
our  College  and  has  been  fo  thefe  forty  Years  pad,  and 
if  I  have  ever  (hone  in  your  Lordfhip's  Eyes  on  that  Ac 
count,  here  I  learnt  it  thirty  Years  fince,  and  when  I 
Vifited  the  famous  Univerfities  and  private  Academies 
•  in  England,  I  was  proud  of  ray  own  humble  Education 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N.  137 

frere  in  our  Cambridge,  becaufe  of  the  Catholick  Air  I 
had  there  breached  in.  And  fuch  it  has  continued  till 
of  late  a  Parcel  of  High-flyers  have  poifoned  and  ftag- 
nated  it,  by  leading  us  into  a  Courfe  of  angry  Contro- 
verfy  which  has  alarmed  and  narrowed  us,  who  before 
received  the  Writings  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Church  of 
England  with  the  mod  open  Reverence  and  Affedlion.. 
And  (My  Lord)  I  am  afraid  that  now  the  Paper- 
War  here  is  a  little  over  between  fome  Gentlemen  of 
the  Church  and  others  on  our  Part,  the  Alienation  is 

like  to  increafe  by  the  Meafures  lately  taken  by  Dr.  C • 

and  others,  whp  upon  a  Memorial  of  our  Minifters  to  our 
General  Court  the  laft  May  for  the  convening  of  a  Sy 
nod,  which  we  alfo  moved  for  more  than  ten  Years  pad, 
put  in  a  counter  Memorial  and  havefince  made  fome  Re- 
prefentation  on  this  Head,  (we  know  not  what)  to  the 
prefent  excellent  Bifhop  of  London  ;  who  (as  our  Agent 
in  a  publick  Letter  has  informed  our  Court,)  laid  before 
the  Lords  Juflices  a  Copy  of  our  Memorial  confented  to 
by  our  Lieutenant  Governour,  at  whofe  Conduct  herein 
(he  fays;  their  Excellencies  are  very  much  difpleafed. 

It  is  thought,  he  tells  us,  that  our  Clergy  mould  not 
meet  in  fo  publick  authoritative  a  Manner  without  the 
King's  Confent  as  Head  of  the  Church  ;  and  that  it 
would  be  a  bad  Precedent  for  our  DifTenting  Brethren 
at  Home  to  afk  the  fame  Privilege  ;  which  if  granted, 
would  be  a  fort  of  vying  with  the  Eftabliihed  Church. 
It  has  alfo  been  infmuated  that  this  Synod  would  have 
come  to  fome  Refolutions  to  the  Prejudice  of  the 
Church  of  England. 

^  Upon  the  reading  of  this  Letter  from  Mr.  Jgent,  our 
General  Court  immediately  difmifTed  our  Memorial  :  But 
if  your  Lordfliip  will  give  me  Leave  I  would  humbly 
plead  our  Innocence  and  Right  in  making  the  aforefaid 
Memorial  to  our  General  Court,  and  afking  their  Coun 
tenance  in  the  convening  of  a  Synod  of  our  Churches. 
And  I  have  feen  fomuch  of  the  excellent  Candour  and 
Equity  of  the  LordBiJhop  of 'London  in  a  private  Letter  to 

T  one 


138         ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

one  of  the  Clergy  here  the  laft  Year,  as  well  as  known  a 
great  while  the  like  excellent  Spirit  and  Temper  of 
your  Lordjhip,  that  I  think  I  would  not  defire  to  (land  be 
fore  better  Judges. 

And  firft,  let  me  plead  before  your  Lordjhip  in  behalf 
of  the  Churches  of  New -England  their  Ufage  in  Times 
pad,  from  the  Beginning  of  the  Country  to  meet  oo 
cafionally  in  Synods,  under  the  Countenance  of  our 
civil  Rulers,  for  the  preferving  and  promoting  of 
Godlinefs,  Peace  and  good  Order  in  them. — This  Right 
and  Liberty  our  Fathers  have  dearly  purchafed  for  us, 
and  the  Government  then  feem  to  have  thought  fo, 
when  it  gave  them  a  Patent  fo  ample  for  all  religious 
Liberties  and  Priviledges  to  them  and  their  Pofterity  upon 
their  fettling  and  fubduing  this  wafte  and  howling  Wil- 
dernefs,  and  making  fo  great  and  good  an  Addition  to 
the  Englifh  Dominions.  And  although  the  oppreflive 
Powers  in  the  End  of  King  Charles,  and  the  firft  of  King 
James  the  Second,  had  no  Confideration  hereof,  but  vaca 
ted  our  firft  Charter,  yet  we  have  to  plead  in  the  Second 
Place, 

That  by  our  prefent  Charter,  granted  by  King  Wil 
liam  and  Queen  Mary,  our  Churches  are  here  the  Legal 
Eflablijhment,  and  our  Minifters  both  in  refpefl  of  their 
Induction  and  Maintenance  are  the  King's  Minifters,  as 
much  as  even  the  Church  of  England  Minifters  are  in  any  of 
the  other  Provinces  -9  who  did  not  fettle  as  we  did  on  the 
declared  Principles  of  Non-conformity,  and  without  the 
lead  Charge  or  Expence  to  the  Crown  as  we  have  done. 
But  when  I  fay  that  our  Churches  and  Minifters  here 
are  eftablifhed  by  the  King's  Laws,  I  would  pray  your 
Lordjhip  not  to  underftand  me  in  Oppofition  to  the  Church 
of  England,  for  fo  they  are  not  -,  but  if  any  Town  will 
chufea  Gentleman  of  the  Church  of  England  for  their 
Paftor  or  Rector  they  are  at  their  Liberty,  and  he  is  their 
Minifter  by  the  Laws  of  our  Province,  as  much  as  any 
Congregational  Minifter  among  us  is  fo.  ,  So  far  is  our 
Eftablifhment  from  excluding  others  from  the  common 

Rights 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN. 

Rights  of  Men  and  Chriftians,   and   I   hope  ever   will 
remain  fo. 

And  then  thirdly,  our  Churches  here  being  founded 
and  formed  on  the  Congregational  Scheme,  our  Synods 
whether  greater  or  lefs  do  not  pretend  to  Authority  or 
JurifdicYion,  but  only  to  counfel  and  advife  the  Churches, 
who  are  at  Liberty  after  all  to  judge  for  themfelves,  al 
though  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  will  always  pay  a  rever 
ential  Regard  to  the  deliberate  and  folemn  Advices  of 
a  venerable  AfTembly  of  their  Paftors  and  Elders. 
Your  Lord/hip  will  from  hence  eafily  judge  how  far 
fuch  a  Synod  can  be  in  any  fort  vying  with  the  Church  of 
England,  or  a  bad  Precedent  toother  Diflenters from  it. 

For  as  to  our  Brethren  in  Ireland,  they  meet  in  Synods 
when  they  pleafe  by  the  Aft  of  Toleration,  and  our  Bre 
thren  in  the  Provinces  of  New-Tor k  and  New-Jerfies  have 
their  dated  annual  Synods,  Nobody  forbidding  them  or 

taking  Umbrage  at  their  fo  doing. But  we   in   the 

Province  of  the  Maffachufetts,  really  the  Churches  efta- 
blimed  by  Law,  and  having  been  ufed  to  afk  the  Coun 
tenance  of  our  Rulers  in  our  Meetings  in  a  Provincial 
Synod,  we  now  obferved  the  fame  Rule  and  kept  to  our 
old  Practice ;  expecting  no  more  from  them  than  the  Pub- 
lick's  bearing  the  Charge  of  the  Convention,  and  if  the 
Refults  of  the  Synod  were  approved  by  the  Government, 
that  they  would  recommend  the  fame  to  the  reverent  Re 
gards  of  our  Churches. 

This  (my  Lord]  is  the  Foot  that  the  Churches  of  New- 
England  have  hitherto  ftood  on,  increafed  and  flourifhed 
on  ;  leading  quiet  and  peaceable  Lives  in  all  Godlinefs 
and  Honefty,  maintaining  an  exemplary  Loyalty  to  the 
King,  and  Brotherly  Love  to  their  Neighbours  ;  except 
ing  fome  Errors  of  a  perfecuting  Spirit  toward  the  Baptift 
and  Quakers  for  fometime  in  their  Beginning,  which  we 
have  heartily  repented  of. 

And  whereas  it  is  infinuated  that  this  Synod  would 
have  come  to  fome  Refolutions  to  the  Prejudice  of  the 
Church  of  England  -,  it  is  only  Surmife,  and  without  any 

Grounds, 


140         The  L 1  F  E  and   CHARACTER 

Grounds,  fave  what  the  Objedors  may  apprehend 
from  the  Principles  of  Non  conformity  which  we  openly 
profefs,  and  from  the  late  Difputes  which  they  have  raifed 

among  us  about  Epifcopacy. The  utmoft  that  the 

Synod  was  like  to  have  done,about  Church-Order  andGo- 
vernment  was  their  confirming  or  rather  amending  fome 
Things  in  our  Platform  of  Church-Difcipline  the  Refults 
of  former  Synods,  which  would  have  done  nothing  more 
againft  the  Church  of  England  than  ftands  profefled  al 
ready  among  us,  nor  have  fet  us  at  any  more  Diftance  from 
her.  And  if  your  Lordjhip  will  pleafe  to  read  the  Me 
morial  itfelf,  a  Copy  whereof  I  inclofe  to  you,  you  will 
fee  that  the  Reafon  and  Caufe  of  our  defiring  a  Synod  at 
this  Time  was  to  enquire  into  the  Caufes  of  the  -prefent 
growing  Corruption  of  Manners  among  us,  and  the  Means 
of  the  Reformation  of  thefe  ;  the  fame  noble  and  pious 
Caufe  wherein  your  Lord/hip  has  borne  fo  good  and  great 

a  Part  for  many  Years  paft. , — This  is  not  the  Caufe 

of  a  Sector  Party,  but  too  many  in  every  Sed  among  us 
have  an  Averfion  to  it,  and  no  wonder  if  it  be  every-where 

fpoken  againft. Or  if  our  reforming  Synod  could  not 

efcape  theSufpicion  of  fome,  that  fomething  ungrateful  to 
Epifcopacy  or  Liturgies  might  be  done  there,  yet  I  muft 
ferioufly  profefs  to  your  Lord/hip  that  in  all  the  Debates 
among  the  Minifters,  whether  this  Year  or  in  Years  paft* 
upon  this  Head  of  calling  a  Synod,  I  remember  not  a 
"Word  that  has  dropt  among  us  to  give  Occafion  for 

fuch  a  Sufpicion. Or  if  it  be  that  our   Churches  are 

now  envied  the  Reputation  of  holding  Synods  as  in  Times 
paft  by  Gentlemen  lately  come  among  us,  and  who  have 
been  treated  by  us  with  all  due  Refpeds,  they  are  neither 
courteous  nor  juft;  for  it  ought  in  Righteoufnefs  and. 
Honour  to  content  them  that  they  receive  all  kind  and 
brotherly  Treatment  from  us,  and  enjoy  their  own  Opi- 
rionand  Perfwafion  with  the  greateft  Freedom;  and  they 
ought  not  to  ufe  Means  to  grieve  and  trouble  us  among 
whom  they  are  come  to  fojourn,  and  where  they  find  a 
Country  filled  with  Churches,  wherein  Knowledge,  De 
votion 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N?  141 

votion   and  Piety   flouriih  at  lead   equally   as  in   their 
own  Communions. 

My  Lord,  It  may  be  I  am  too  free  and  pathetical  in 
this  my  Addrefs  to  you  •,  And  I  would  not  take  too  much 
Liberty  in  the  Caufe  of  Liberty.  I  know  Sir,  you  can 
forgive  my  Zeal  in  this  tender  and  generous  Point.  And 
if  your  Lordjhip  think  with  me  that  this  plain  Argument 
and  Reprefentation  will  not  offend  My  Lord  of  London^ 
or  may  do  us  any  Service  with  his  Lord/hip,  I  would  then 
intreat  the  Favour  of  him  to  read  what  I  have  here  wrote, 
and  let  it  have  its  juft  Weight  in  his  noble  and  righteous 
Heart. 

It  is  enough,  My  Lord,  to  grieve  us  to  the  Heart,  confci- 
ous  as  we  are  of  the  utmoft  Zeal  and  Loyalty  to  King 
George,  that  we  fhould  feem  to  the  Lords  Juftices  to  have 
trefpaffed  upon  hisjuftPrerogative  :  We  had  noThoughts 
of  offending  the  King's  Majefty,  nor  the  Governours 
of  the  Church,  which  like  the  King's  Throne  is  efta- 

bliflied  by  Moderation. 1  fliall  trouble'your  Lordjhip 

no  further  than  by  afking  your  Blefling  and  leave  to  fub- 
fcribe  my  felf,  &c/» 


On  the  Account  of  apprehended  Abufes  and  Mifap- 
plications  of  the  Moneys  of  the  Honourable  and  Rever 
end  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gofpel  in  foreign  Parts, 
Dr.  Colman  (in  his  old  Age)  wrote  once  and  again  to 
my  Lord  of  London  by  the  Defire  of  the  Reverend  AfTo- 
ciation  of  the  County  of  Hampjhire,  who  made  their  hum 
ble  Reprefentation  to  his  Lordfhip  and  the  faid  Society, 
to  which  Anfwers  were  returned. 

Dr.  Colman's  firfl  Letter  follows. 

<c  Sir,  Bojlon,  September  13."  1734. 

I   am  defired  to  forward   and  cover  the  inclofed  to 
your  Lordjhip,  from  my   Reverend  and   Honoured  Bre 
thren,  the  affociated  Paftors  of  the  County  of  Hampjhire, 
partly  becaufe  I  am  now  the  fenior  Pallor  in  this  Sea 
port 


i42  fbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

port  Town,  and  partly  becaufe  they  fuppofe  my  worthlefs 
Name  may  be  a  little  known  at  London^  though  not  to 
Perfons  of  your  Lord/hip's  Dignity. 

It  is  now  thirty  five  Years  fince  I  left  the  City,  where  I 
was  not  unknown  to  the  venerable  Dr.  Bray,  that  Man  of 
God  for  Apoftolic  Love  and  Zeal,  fince  which  I  have  had 
the  Honour  of  a  long  and  moft  free  Intercourfe  of  Letters 
with  the  late  excellent  Bifhop  ^Peterborough,  Dr.  Ken- 
net,  now  with  God. 

Your  Lord/hip's  three  Paftoral  Letters,  occafioncd  by 
the  late  furprizing  Writings  of  fome  in  Favour  of  Infide 
lity,  have  juftly  honoured  your  Name  to  the  Churches 
of  New- England,  and  we  have  heard  of  your  Character 
for  Moderation  and  Righteoufnefs  with  high  Efteem  and 
PJeafure. 

I  do  the  more  willingly  therefore  join  my  Brethren, 
who  live  remote  from  Boflon,  and  hitherto  quite  out  of 
the  Way  of  the  Minions  whereof  they  write  in  their  Ad- 
drefs  to  your  Lordjhip  ;  being  fully  perfwaded  of  the  In 
tegrity  and  Uprightnefs  of  their  Hearts  in  it,  and  that 
they  aim  at  nothing  but  what  is  juft  and  right  in  the 
Sight  of  God. 

The  Harveft,  My  Lord,  is  plenteous  from  North- 
Carolina  to  New-York,  and  Multitudes  are  perifhing 
within  that  long  Spread  of  Virginia,  Maryland^  Penfytoa- 
via  and  the  Jerfies  ;  But  from  New-York  Northward,  Dr. 
Bray  found  very  little  need  of  MifTionaries  for  the  Propa 
gation  of  Chriftianity,  the  Narraganjet  Country  excepted, 
and  in  the  Colonies  of  Connecticut  and  the  MaJJacbufetfs 
none  at  all,  as  at  the  Time  I  was  informed. 

Were  your  Lord/hip  and  the  pious  Tru flees  here  on  the 
Spot,  I  am  fure  you  could  not  think  the  profefled  End  of 
your  Charter,  and  the  Defign  of  the  Donors  anfwered,  in 
your  fupportingMifTionaries  at  BoSfon^Braintree^  Newbury, 
Stratford,  Briflol,  Salem,  Groton,  &c.  Or  if  the  Sea-ports 
of  great  Trade  fuch  as  Bofton,  Newport,  Marblebead  need 
to  have  Minifters  "of  the  Church  of  England  for  the  fake 
of  fome  Inhabitants  and  Strangers,  yet  alfo  are  they  well 

able 


<?/  Dr.    B  J5  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N;  143 

able  to  fupport  their  own  Worihip  ;  or  did  they  want 
fome  Afiidance,  there  can  be  no  Pretence  for  it  out  of  a 
Fund  facred  to  God  for  fending  the  Gofpel  into  dark  and 
ignorant  Places  of  the  Earth.  They  ought  to  be  provi 
ded  for  fome  other  Way,  and  not  by  alienating  a  devo 
ted  confined  Charity,  which  were  to  run  the  Danger  of 
Sacrilege  and  great  Unfaithfulnefs. 

This,  My  Lord,  is  our  View  of  the  Cafe  now  laid  be 
fore  you,   and  is  humbly   fubmitted   to   your  righteous 

and  impartial  Judgment. Yet  I  fear  that  I  have  not 

prefervedall  the  Humility  and  great  Modedy  which  adorns 
the  inclofed  from  my  Brethren,  I  am  ready  therefore  to 
humble  my  felf,  and  befeech  your  Lord/hip's  Candor, 
while  I  doubt  not  your  own  Heart  will  make  fome  Ex- 
cufe  for  a  little  Zeal  and  Refentment,  from  an  apprehen 
ded  Injury  to  one  of  the  mod  noble  Charitys  to  Souls, 
and  one  of  the  mod  extenfive  Services  to  the  Name  of 
Chrid,  that  has  been  propofed  to  the  World  for  Ages  pad. 
A  Concern  on  this  Principle  mud  be  judified,  and  have 
your  Lord/hip's  Approbation. 

I   entreat,  My  Lord,  your   mod  candid  Condru&ion, 
and  beg  leave   to  fubfcribe 
Your  Lord/hip's 

Mod   humble  and  obedient  Servant,  &c. 

May  the  6th  1719,  Mr.  Colman  wrote  to  Dr.  Hoadky 
Bifhop  of  Eangor  (fmce  Bifhop  of  Winchefter) 

"  My   Lord, 

Having  had  the  Pleafure  of  reading  your  Book,  enti 
tled  the  Common- Rights  of  Subjects,  My  grateful  Heart 
and  a  Soul  full  of  Edeem  and  Reverence  to  your  Lorfc 
Jhip  urges  me  to  utter  if  I  could  my  Senfe  of  your  righte 
ous  and  generous  Performance.     Had  you  been  a  Sufferer 
in  Perfon  by  the  unrighteous  and  cruel  Ted-Aft,  and  de 
prived  by  it  of  thofe  Emoluments   and   Opportunities  of 
doing  good  in  the   World,  which  your  very  fuperiour 
Powers  and  Place  in  k  now  give  your  Lordjhip  the  Ad 
vantage 


144          ^*  LIFE -and  CHARACTER 

vantage  of  \  you  could  not  more  feelingly  have  appeared 
againftthe  injurious  and  impious  Abufe  of  Religion  and 
Invafion  of  Men's  natural  Rights  than  you  have  done. — 
But,  My  Lord,  this  righteous  and  honed  Zeal  for  Truth 
and  Juftice  from  one  in  your  Station  and  Circumftances, 
gives  your  Argument  a  Beauty  and  a  Power,  which  it 
would  not  have,  had  it  come  from  the  Hand  of  a  fuffer- 
ing  DifTenter.  I  confefs  I  know  no  one  among  my  Bre 
thren  that  could  have  hoped  to  fucceed  in  the  Argu 
ment  as  your  Lordjhip  has  to  the  utter  Confufion  of  the 
Adverfary.  But  fuppofing  a  Bates  or  a  Calamy  could  have 
done  it,  fomething  of  felf,  or  Party,  or  Prejudice  might 
be  fufpecled  to  influence  in  it,  while  from  your  Lord- 
Jbip's  noble  Pen,  what  but  the  mod  open  Regards  to 
Truth  and  Juftice  and  the  common  Rights  of  Men  can 
be  imagined.*  And  now  Sir,  I  befeech  the  God  of 

Heaven,  the  Patron  of  the  Injured  and  OpprefTed,  and 
who  raifes  up  and  infpires  Patrons  to  them  from  among 
their  Brethren  to  reward  abundantly  to  your  Lordfhip 
the  Service  you  have  done,  after  many  others,  to  the  King 
dom  of  your  Saviour  and  your  Country,  and  to  continue 
you  long  a  fingular  Ornament  and  Defence  of  it  both  in 
Church  and  State. 

Your  Goodnefs  will  pardon  a  poor  Diflenting  Minifter 
in  America^  the  Preemption  that  may  appear  in  his  trou 
bling  your  Lord/hip  with  the  Knowledge  of  that  Satif- 
f action  he  has  received  from  your  beneficent  Hands.-f — • 
I  bow  to  you  for  your  BlefTing  and  am 

Your  Lordjhip's  very  humble 

and  obedient  Servant^ 

Dr.  Colman  wrote  a  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Egmont, 
who  was  at  the  Head  of  the  Affociates  of  Dr.  Bray, 
July  Sth  1734,  which  obtained  a  Number  of  Books  for 
each  of  our  three  Miffionaries  at  the  Forts  George, Richmond 
and  Dummer. 
»  i .I- 1  .1  i  mil  i  ...in  i  ii  .I  i  i 

f  This  Letter  fhews  how  the  Doftor  watched  for  and  took  every 
Opportunity  to  ferve  Mankind  and  encouraged  Liberty. 


£/  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  145 

"  My  Lord, 

Mr.  Cor  am  ^  who  has  the  Honour  to  be  one  of  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Bray's  Aflbciates,   having  informed    me  of  his 
communicating  my  Letter  to  him  of  September  1733,  and 
that  the  Honourable  and  Reverend  Aflbciates  had  fhewn 
that   Regard  to  it  as  to  order  it  on  their  File  •,    and  that 
he  had  afked  for  a  fmall   Parcel  of  Books  for  the   three 
Miflionaries  and  their  SuccefTors,   Mr.  Stephen  Parker  at 
Richmond  Fort,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Hinfdel  at   Fort-Dutnmer, 
and  Mr.  Jofeph  Secomb  at   St.  Georges  River,  all  on  the 
Borders  of  his  Majefty's  Province    of  the  Majachufetts- 
Bay  in   New-England^  and  that  the  Honourable   Aflbci- 
ates  had  declared  their   Will  to  give  fome  Books  as  de- 
fired,  provided  a  proper  Application  were  made  for  them  -, 
I  am  therefore  directed  by  his   Excellency  Jonathan  Bel 
cher  Efq;  our  Governour,  who   is  ever  ready  unto  every 
good  Work,  and  firft  in  the  pious  Care  for  the  Millions 
aforefaid,  to  give  your  Lord/hip  the  Trouble  of  this  Line, 
and  let  the  Honourable  Gentlemen  Aflbciates  know  in 
what  need  of  proper  Books  the  Miflionaries  aforefaid  are, 
and  how   acceptable  your  Charity  and  Bounty    to   them 
would  be  to  the  Commiffioners  here  who  have  the  Over- 
fight  of  thefe   Miflions. 

It  is  now  thirty-eight  Years  ago,  that  the  Rev.  Dr." 
Bray  himfelf  informed  me,  at  his  Chamber  in  Wbite- 
Hall,  that  he  was  projecting  his  extenfive  Charity  of 
Parochial  Libraries,  when  I  could  little  have  thought 
of  addrefllng  your  Lordjhip  on  this  Occafion  at  fuch  a 
Diflance  of  Time  and  Place.  The  Dr.  like  a  true  Mini- 
fterof  JefusChrift,  went  about  doing  good,  and  his  Works 
follow  him,  his  Praife  remains  in  all  the  Churches,  f 


f  Mr.  Caiman  thought  it  but  grateful  and  juft  to  the  Memory 
of  that  venerable  Man  of  God,  Dr.  Bray*  to  inform  in  our  pub- 
lick  Prints  fuch  as  know  it  not,  that  he  was  the  Father  of  three 
the  moft  noble  and  grand  Projections  of  Piety  and  Chanty  that 
this  laft  Age,  or  indeed  Ages  paft  have  produced  ;  and  all 
three  in  fpecial  Favour  of  the  Proteflant  America,  the  firft  and  fecond 
were  thofe  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Go/pel  in  foreign  Parts, 

V   '  ar.a 


i  ±6        ttt  L  I F  E  and  CHARACTER 

In  particular  I  would  afk  by  your  Lord/trip's  Favour, 
for  each  MiffionaryaCopy  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith's  mod 
worthy  Sermon  preached  to  the  Truftees  and  Aflbciates 
Anno  1730,1,  it  being  wonderfully  calculated  to  inftruct 
and  animate  Perfons  imployed  in  fuch  a  Service. 

It  only  remains  now  to  afk  your  Lordjhip's  Pardon  for 
the  Freedom  I  have  taken,  to  add  my  hearty  Prayers  for 
the  bed  of  Blefiings  on  the  Gentlemen  Affociates,  and  to 
do  my  felf  the  Honour  of  fubfcribing,  My  Lord, 

Your  very  obedient  Humble  Servant." 

To  this  Letter  the  Right  Honourable  the  Earl  returned 
a  kind  Anfwer. 

Upon  his  dear  and  ancient  Friend  and  conftant  Cor- 
refpondent,  Henry  Newman,  Efq;  ||  informing  him  of  Sir 
Richard  Ellis  Baronet,  his  Intention,  to  give  his  great  and 
noble  Library  to  the  Diffenters ;  He  immediately  wrote 
to  Sir  Richard  and  acquainted  him  of  the  State  of  our 
Colleges  and  the  Churches  in  thefe  Provinces,  and  fent 
him  his  Sermon  on  Mr.  Hottis  and  Mr.  Holders  Death's 
that  he  might  fee  the  Gratitude  of  the  Government  and 

and  of  Parochial  Libraries  for  the  Minifters  in  one  Place  and  another* 
The  third  is  the  late  Charter  for  incorporating  a  Number  of  Gentle 
men  by  the  Name  of  the  7irw/?wfor  eftablifhing  the  Colony  of  Georgia. 
This  laft  the  Doctor  finiilied  with  his  aged  dying  Hand,  and  he  could 
not  expire  more  glorioufly  than  with  this  his  laft  and  vaft  Project  of 
Charity  for  the  ufelefs  Poor  in  England,  and  diflreffed  Proteftants  in 
Europe.  It  calls  to  mind  what  we  read  of  Solomon,  i  Kings  4.  29. 
And  God  gave  Solomon  Wifdom  and  Under Jlanding  exceeding  much,  and 

J,argeneff  of  Heart  even  as  the  Sand  on  the  Sea-Jkore. God  grant  that 

ihe  Management  of  thefs  truly  nobhe  Trufts  and  good  Defigns  may 
ever  anfwer  the  Intention,  Hope  and  Prayers  of  their  excellent  Author. 
||  He  was  Son  of  the  excellent  Mr.  Samuel  Newman,  who  cams 
over  to  Nenv- England \n  the  Year  1638,  and  was  Minifter  of  our  Re* 
h  Icth,  Author  of  a  moft  elaborate  Concordance  of  the  Bible  in  Folia. 
This  being  enlarged  by  fome  ingenious  Men  m  England,,  now  goes 

by  the  Name  of  Cambridge  Concordance. This  his  worthy  Soft 

went  over  and  fettled  in  England  many  Years  fmce,    and  faw   caufe 

to  conform  to  th-e  Efla-bliihed  Church. But  he  ever  cherifhed   and 

cxpreft  a  warm  and  genereus  Love  and  Regard  for  hrs  Country,  the 
Churches  and  Colleges  here,  and  fought  their  Ppolperity  and  flourim- 
ing.  Tins  appears  by  Scores  of  Lexers  to  Mr.  Cdman  and  ethers. — 

People 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N.~  147 

People  here  to  their  Benefadors.  He  alfo  wrote  at  the 
fame  Time  to  Dr.  Watts^  Dr.  Guife,  Mr.  Neat,  Mr. 
'Bradbury,  and  ethers  to  favour  us  in  that  Matter. 

Part  of  his  Letter  to  Sir  Richard  Ellis  follows. 

•      i.   •  *1  t     i.'  •'    ' 

r.  3t . 

"  Honourable  Sir, 

The  Manner  of  my  Addrefs  to  you,  and  the  Matter  of 
my  humble  Requeft,  from  one  at  fuch  a  Diftance  from 
you,  and  altogether  a  Stranger  and  unknown  may  well  be 
not  a  little  furprizing  to  you.  I  had  need  therefore  in 
troduce  my  felf  into  fome  Knowledge  with  you,  and  if 
it  might  be  Efteem,  which  I  know  not  how  better  to  do 
if  the  inclofed  Sermons  will  not  in  fome  Meafure  fervc  to 

this  End. You  will  fee  by  them  two  Things,  that  it 

has  pleafed  God  to  ufe  me  in  miniftring  to  my  Country* 
in  the  great  Bounties  of  Mr.  Hollis  to  our  College,  and 
of  Mr.  Holden  to  the  poor  Members  of  Chrift  in  our 
Churches  •,  nor  has  their  Almoner  benefited  himfelf  in 

his  temporal  Eftate  at  all  hereby,  nor  defired  it. You 

will  alfo  fee,  Sir,  that  my  Country,  I  mean  the  Govern 
ment  over  it,  know  how  to  acknowledge  with  due  Grati* 
tude  and  Honour  their  pious  and  generous  Benefactors, 
and  alfo  their  own  Sons  that  minifter  to  the  publick  In- 
tereft  of  Learning  and  Piety. 

And  now^  Sir,  providentially  hearing  Yefterday  of  Sir 
Richard  Ellis  Bart,  formerly  a  Member  of  Parliament  for 
Bofton  in  Lincoln/hire^  that  he  has  a  noble  Library  which 
it  is  thought  he  will  incline  to  leave  to  fome  learned  Se 
minaries  amongft  the  Diffenters  ;  my  Heart  commands 
me  to  falute  you  on  the  Behalf  of  my  dear  Mother, 
<c  Harvard  College  in  Cambridge  New-England,  where  I 
had  my  Education,  and  whom  I  have  been  honoured 
by  God  to  ferve  in  obtaining  for  faid  Academy  the 
Hollijian  Profe/er  of  Divinity,  and  alfo  of  natural  and  ex 
perimental  Philofophy,  befide  fundry  annual  Exhibitions 
for  the  Education  of  poor  Scholars,  with  an  Addition 
of  many  valuable  Books  to  the  Library  of  faid  College. 

And 


H8  91*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

And  now,  Honoured  Sir,  If  I  may  be  permitted  by  the 
divine  Providence,  which  has  hitherto  frniled  on  faid  Se 
minary  of  Learning,  to   clofe  and  crown  my  Life   and 
Love  to  it  (for  I  am  now  within  three  Years  of  Seventy) 
by  obtaining  your  kind  Regards  to  it  whenever  it  pleafes 
God  to  incline  you  to  difpofe  of  any  Part  of  your  rick 
Library,  is  the  whole  generous   End  on  my  Part  of  this 
my  humble   and  moft  refpedtful  Addrefs  to  you  •,  which 
I  cover  to   my  dear  Countryman   and  once  Fellow-Stu 
dent  in  faid  College  Henry  Newman  Efq-,  Secretary  to  the 
Honourable  Society  for  Propagating  Chriftian  Knowledge, 
with  whom  I  have  had  the  Pleafure  of  a  free  and   lad 
ing  Friend fhLp  thefe  forty-five  Years  paft,  entreating  him 
to  wait  upon  your  Honour  with  it,  of  whom  you  may 
enquire  concerning   our  College,  as  alfo  of  the  Reverend 
Doflor's,  Watts,  and   Guije,  and  Mr.  Neal  of  London  •, 
v\  ho  will  alfo  wifli  us  a  Part  in  your  good  Will  I  perfwade 
ipy  felf  how  much  foever  Dr.  William?*  Library   may 
reafonably  (land   fair  in  their  Eye  and  your  own  :  Nor 
v/ould  I  fay  a  Word  to  divert  your  Bounty  from   that 
Foundation. 

If  my  Requeft  finds  Favour  with  you,  I  hope  Sir,  you 
will  in  granting  it  ferve  the  Intereft  of  Chrift  among  the 
PifTenters  for  many  Generations  -,  for  we  are  a  very 
fiourifhing  Province,  and  our  Towns  and  Churches  mul 
tiply,  for  which  hitherto  our  College  has  been  made  a 
rich.  Supply,  as  to  worthy  Perfons  raifed  up  in  Church 
and  State  -,.  which  that  it  may  more  and  more  be  in  Times 
to  come  when  we  are  dead,  is  the  fole  Aim  of  my  pre- 
fent  Writing-,  and  that  I, alfo  may  reap  with  you  in  the 
Rewards  of  a  better  Life,  attending  fuch  pious  Projec 
tions  and  Foundations. 

Sir,  my  humble  Prayer  is  that  all  the  Bleflings  of 
Providence  aad  Grace  may  attend  you,  to  your  Grave 
in  Peace  ;  and  may  be  mu-hiplkd  to  your  Honourable 

Lady,  for  I  hear  God  has  denied  you    Children But 

that  God  m,ay.  pkafe  to  raife   up  to  you,  among  our  Be- 
clors  Sons  from  our  College.,  a  fpiritual  Seed  to  ferva 

*  Chrift 


0f  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  W    C  0  L  M"  A  N^  149 

Chrift  and  Souls,  while  you  reap  in  the  Vifions  of  his 
Glory  among  the  Spirits  of  the  Juft  made  perfect,  is" 
the  Prayers  of,  &c." 

By  his  Acquaintance  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Harris  of  London^  he  had  the  Diftribution  of  Five  Hun 
dred  Pounds  Sterling  to  the  worthy  Family  of  the  Buc&- 
/<?/s  in  New-England  to  the  equal  Benefit  and  general  con 
tent  of  all  concerned : A  Labour  which  demanded 

much  Time. 

From  his  long,  endearing  and  intimate  Friendship 
and  Correipondence  with  Dr.  Ifaac  Watts^  our  Country 
and  Churches  have  reaped  many  Advantages.— —I 
find  him  giving  timely  Notices,  of  rifing  Dangers  to 
our  Civil  and  Ecclefiaftical  State  ;  and  pointing  out 
happy  Methods  of  Safety.  He  greatly  enriched  our 
Colleges  and  Schools  by-  his  generous  Beftowment  of 
many  valuable  Books.  Mr.  Colman  at  one  Time  re 
ceived  from  him  Seventy  ,  Pounds  Charity  chiefly  col- 
kcted  from  his  Friends  (as  the  Letter  fays)  for  the  School 
at  Houjatonick.  The  numerous  ingenious  and  ufefut 
Letters,  that  pafs  between  thefe  two  Divines  for  a  long, 
Courfe  of  Years  would  afford  a  moft  grateful  Entertain 
ment  to  all  benevolent  and  pious  Readers.  Souls  alike 
formed  to  pleafe  and  profit  Mankind  \; 

He  aifo  held  and  maintained  an  agreeable  and  tifeful 
Correfpondence  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Shower^  Dr. 
Edmund  Calamy^  Dr.  John  Evans,  Dr.  Jeremiah  Hunt,  Dr. 
Gui/e,  Mr.Daniel  Mayo,and  many  other  Diflenting  Divines 
in  London^  &c.  by  whom  he  had  Informations  to  the  Ser 
vice  of  his  Country  and  the  Churches. 

Dr.  Henry  Winder  of  Liverpool  (Author  of  a  learned 
critical  and  chronological  Hiftory  )  fought  his  Corre 
fpondence  and  was  highly  delighted  with  it  for  feveral 
Years  paft. 

Twenty  two  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Daniel  Neal*s  Letters 
are  found  in  Order  (befides  many  others,)  in  the  Ser 
vice  of  the  Country  and  Harvard  College,  and  by  the 
Contents  of  them  it  appears  how  precious  our  Civil  and 

Religious'- 


i5o  SfcLlFE  and  CHARACTER 

religious  Intereft  were   to  them   ;    and  how  much  they 

fought  the  bed  Good  of  New  England. 1  alfo  find  Mr. 

Colman  aflifting  this  Gentleman  with  fome  ufeful  Materials 
for  his  Hiftoiy  of  our  Country. 

Sir  f^illiam  Ajhurft  and  Lord  Vifcount   Bar- 

rington  Shute  and  other  Gentlemen  of  Figure  and  Learn 
ing  wrote  frequently  to  him,  and  freely  offered  to  do  all 
the  Services  they  could  for  us  upon  his  Motions.  They 
often  affure  him  "  that  his  Correfpondence  is  perfectly 
agreeable,  and  defire  him  conftantly  to  communicate  his 
Sentiments  to  them  of  fuch  Matters  as  occur  to  his 
Obfervation." 

I  find  Sir  Richard  Blackmort  taking  Notice  of  him, 
and  bis  Writings,  and  making  a  Prefent  of  fome  of  his 
Poems  to  him.  I  might  mention  his  large  Correfpon 
dence  with  the  Honourable  Dr.  Nicholas  Trot,  Chief 
Judge  of  South-Carolina*  refpecYmg  a  learned  Work  he 
was  about,  entitled  Claris  Linguae  SanR<e. 

To  Governour  Nicholfon  and  mod  of  the  Governours 
in  the  Plantations  he  wrote  frequently. 

Many  Letters  of  greateft  Importance  paffed  between 
him  and  the  Honoured  Dr.  Avery^  (of  late  YearsJ  who 
is  at  the  Head  of  the  Dif enters  which  have  greatly  ferved 
thefe  Churches,  aad  our  Civil  Interefts. 

Alfo  by  his  long  correfponding  with  the  worthy  Mr. 
tfhomasCoram  one  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Bray's  AfTociates 
(a  Gentleman  zealous  and  indefatigable  in  doing  good 
on  all  Occafions)  much  Benefit  has  accrued  to  Mankind. 

He  held  a  pleafant  and  ufeful  Correfpondence  and 
Friendfhip  with  fundry  eminent  Divines  of  the  renowned 
Church  of  Scotland,  particularly  with  Mr.  R.  Woodrow  of 
Eaftwood,  Author  of  the  Sufferings  of  that  Church,  (vaft 
Numbers  of  his  Letters  are  found)  and  his  worthy  Son 
after  his  Father's  Death  continued  ir,  and  fpeaks  of  the 
great  Advantage  he  had  by  it.  Mr.  Willifon  of  Dundee^ 

f  This  Gentleman  is  Dodor  of  Laws,  and  Treafurer  of  Guy's  Hof- 
pital  Sout&<war&. 

frequently 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  CO 

frequently  wrote,  and  of  late  Mr.  Robe  of  Kilfyth,  &c. 
&c.  &c. 

Mr.  Co/man  wrote  unto  and  correfponded  with  divers 
Gentlemen  Divines  of  the  Eftablifhed  Church  in  England 
(befides  thofe  already  named)  f- 

Among  thcfe  I  may  not  omit  a  particular  Mention 
of  the  Reverend  and  learned  Mr.  Jofepb  Standen,  formerly 
a  DifTenting  Minifter  at  Luckingtont — but  for  many  Years 
pail  a  Minifter  of  the  Eftablifhed  Church  at  Speen  near 
Newbury  Berks. 

This  Gentleman  entered  into  a  fincere  and  mofl  paf- 
fionate  Friendfhip  with  Mr.  Colman  foon  after  his  Ar 
rival  at  London,  and  no  Changes  in  Opinion  or  Station 
could  ever  make  the  lead  Breach  upon  it.  Their  Loves 
feem  to  equal  thofe  of  David  and  Jonathan,  if  we  may 
judge  by  their  Expreffions.  They  omitted  no  Op 
portunity  of  Writing  and  fending  every  curious  Piece 
they  could  light  of  to  one  another.  And  as  both  of 
them  had  a  good  Tafte  and  Gift  for  Poetry,  fcarce  a 
Letter  paffed  without  fomething  of  that  kind  inclofed  for 
Amufement.  A  large  and  beautiful  Pile  is  now  before 
me  full  of  fineSenfe,  true  Eloquence  and  manly  Chrifti- 

anity. They  communicated  the   minuteft  as  well  as 

moft  important  Circurnftances  of  their  Families  and  Af 
fairs,  and  made  each  others  Griefs  and  Joys  their  own. 
In  the  reading  them  over,  I  have  had  great  Pleafure  and 
Improvement.  Ariftottfs  Defcription  of  Friendfhip  often 
occurred  to  my  Mind — viz.  One  Soul  in  two  Bodies — This 
Gentleman  I  fuppofe  to  be  (till  living  in  an  advanced 
1 • ' 

•f-  Wrote  to  the  Reverend  and  learned  Dr.  Thomas  Burnet,  Author 
of  many  ufeful  Works,  with  Obfervationson  Tome  of  them. 

Wrote  to  Dr.  Henry  Maule,  Bifhop  of  Cloyne,  near  the  City  of  Csrk 
in  Ireland^  about  an  Affair  of  Juftice  and  Charity, to  which  a  kind  Ato- 
fwer  was  made.. 

Wrote  to  Dr.  Wilfon  of  London  f  Son  of  Biihop  Wiifon  of  the  Jfle  of 
Man,  who  anfwered  him  once  and  again  with  great  Cemplaifsnce  and 
AfFedion. 

To  the  Rev.  Mr.  SamuffSntfib  of  Aldgate  Church  London y  who  an 
fwered  him.  wiih  Expreflions  of -his  hi^h  Eiteem  for  him,  £c,  &'c,  &-c. 

Age, 


LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Age.* He  is  Author  of  feveral  Sermons  and   many 

ingenious  Pieces  In  Profe  and  Verfe.  One  of  his  early 
Poems  is  to  be  feen  before  Dr.  Watts 's  Hor<e  Lyrics. — 
He  was  a  mod  intimate  Friend  and  Acquaintance  of 
Philomela,  the  incomparable  Mrs.  Rows,  and  corre- 

Iponded   with  her  conftantly  to  her  Death. 

Feb.  1735.  1  find  him  Writing  to  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Urlfpergcr  Senior  in  the  Evangelical  Miniftry,  and  Paf- 
tor  to  the  Church  of  St.  Ann  in  Augfburgh  —  And  to 
Monfieur  Van  Breck  in  Latin,  which  difcover  much  of  his 
excellent  Spirit  and  Temper — His  Letter  to  the  former 
is  here  inferred  with  one  of  that  Reverend  Gentleman's 
in  Return. 

**^rt>  1    "  f»  f 

*c  ReverendifTimo  Dom.  D.  Samueli  Urlfperger,  in  Mi- 
nifterio   Evangelico  Senior^  et   Paftori  Ecclefiae  St. 
Anne,  Augjburg^  Literatifllmo  et  Fidelifiimo. 

^r  -   r>  j    i 

•  Vir  vere  Reverende  ! 

Eximius  nofter  Guberr^ator  Summus,  D.  D.  Belcher., 
qul  poftremo  Anno  Literis  Veftris  piis  maxime  gaudebat, 
mifit  eas  Mihi,  Seniori  Paftori  in  Urbe  hac  frequentiflima, 
et  Suo  Juffu  Honorem  habeo  tibi  Salutem  dicere.  Heu ! 
quali  Gaudio  et  Dolore  fimul  afficior,  dum  Verba  Pater- 
na  Paftoris  vere  Evangelici  perlego,  et  Difperfionem  Gre- 
gis  diledliflimi  contemplor  !  Sint  Animis  veftris  Confola- 
tiones  fummae  Divini  PARACLETI,  dum  Pafliones  Chrifti 
abundant.  Vobis  conceditur  Supplicatio  Beati  Fault  pro 
feipfo  in  Epiftola  ad  Philippenfes,  "  Utcognofcam  Com- 
*'  municationem  Pafllonum  ejus,  dum  configurer  ejus 
"  mortis."  Ita  perveniunt  Martyrum  Exercitus  ad  Re- 
furredlionem  mortuorum. 

Amicus  Vefter  et  Filius  amabilis  Dom.  de  Beck,  inter 
nos  Nomen  reliquit  vere  magnum  pro  Prudentia,  fincera 
Pietate,  et  Zelo  erga  Deum,  Fratrefq;  et  Seflbres,  etEmi- 

*  After  70  His  Letters  begins,    My  dear  dear  Friend -My 

dear  and  conftant  Friend,—--. 

grantes,' 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  NT."  153 

grantes.  Liters  Prasfedlus  noftri  accedere  Tibi  non  po- 
tuerunt  Manu  magis  accepta.  Eodem  Tempo  re  Volup- 
tatem  nobis  maximam  fecit,  Notatio  Nominis  Tin,  et 
Meriti  praefignis.  Interim,  Tu,  Domine,  merito  cxifli- 
mas  Civitatem  noftram  et  Provinciam  admodum  feliccm 
fub  Regimine  Viri  Literis  et  Religione,  Humanitate  et 
Probitate,  Candore  et  Benignitate  prance  llentis.  Videris 
ioqui  de  Refidentia  Excellent  fuse  in  his  noflris  Regi- 

onibus,   Diplomate  Regio  fed  Notum  tibi  facio, 

Domine,  non  fine  aliqua  Superbia,  quod  Natale  Solum  illc 

poflidet,  et  inter  nos  liberaliter  inftructus  fuit,  et  educatus, 

Charifiimam  habemus,  Cantabrigia  noftra,  et  amcenam 

Academiam,   Nomine   Collegii  Harvardini    gaudentem, 

quam  fecit  hucufque  Deus  almam  Matrem  et  fsecundam 

non  modo  Paftorum  fidelium  et  docYiflimorum,  fed  etiam 

Gubernatorum  et  Judicum  Literatorum  •,  inter  quos  mine 

numeramus  dignifTimum  Belcher,  qui  nobis  et  peregrinis 

idem  eft  Pater  et  Amicus  •,  infervire  Chrifto  et  fuis^   in 

Vita  publica  et  privata,  Cupiditate  inflammatus.     O  uti- 

nam  tales  eflent  Imperatores  omnes  per  totum  Terrarum 

Orbem,  ut  placidam  et  quietam  Vitam  degerent  ubiquc 

omnes,  omni  cum  Pietate  et  Honeftate  ;  unoquoque  e 

Vite  fua,  et  e  Ficu  fua  comedente  !  Tune  nullus,  ne  unus 

<]uidem,  emigrant  e  felici  Germania  videretur  in  extremis 

Terras  quasrens  Perfugium.     Si  vero  fit  in  noftra  Potefta- 

te  inter  has  Colonias  aliqnid  contribuere,   quo  emigrantes 

veftri  charifflmi  Solamen  accipiant,  confide,  Domine,  Be- 

nevolentias  MagiftratCis  et  Sacerdotii  noftri  ;  quibus  Prae- 

cepta  ilia  Evangelica  (Gratia  Chriftij  funt  conjunctiflima 

is  Fraterna  Charitas  maneat !    "  Hofpitii  ne  fids  imme- 

*ft  mores  !  per  hoc  enim  quidam  acceperunt  Ap>gelos.l? 

u  Memores  eftote  Vinclorum,  tanquam  una  vindi,  et  eo- 

tc  rum  qui  affliguntur,  tanquam  ipfi  quoque  fitis  in  Cor- 

"  pore."  Hoc  Chrifto  debemus,et  plura  in  Infinitum,qui 

dixit, "  Peregrinus  fui,et  accepiftis  me  ;  nudus,et  veftivi- 

u  ftis  me  ;  infirmus,  et  vifitaftis  :  Quatenus  enim  feciftis 

"  uni  de  his  Fratribus  meis  minimis,  mihi  feciftis."  — 

Corde  vere  paterno,  paterna  Commiferatione  et  Amoret 

W  Emigrantes 


Y54         &e  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

ILmigr antes  veftros  dicis  Filios  tuos,   et  tibi   dixit  Pater 
Cceleftis, ."  Relinque  Pupillos  tuos,    Ego  vivificabo,   et 

"  viduse  tuas  in  me  fperabunt." Ego  quoque,  qua- 

draginta  Annis  elapfis,  Captivus  fui  in  Gallia,   et  Promif- 
fum  fuum  fanftum  praeftavit  Deus  in  carcere. 

Vere  dicis,  Domine,  vere  dicis,  Dominus  Deus  eft  Hie, 
Dominus  Deus  eft  ilk  —  Et  Temper  idem  eft  in  omnibus 
Locis,  Deus  Omnipotens,  Fidelibus  fuis  qui  ei  confidunt. 
Vehementer  optamus  perlegere  magnalia  ilia  Dei,  quorum 

Volumina  fcribere  pofiis Tranfcriptum  nnius  eorum 

Thefaurus  effet  ^ftimatione  noftra.  Nuperrime  Deus 
apcruit  Corda  Tribus  Indorum  [  Houfatonoc  ]  in  Finitimis 
noftris,  accipere  Evangelium,  et  per  idem  Tempus  infpi- 
ravit  Egregium  quendam  adolefcentem  D.  Johannem  Sar 
gent,  Literis  etPietate  infignem,  fe  totum  devovere  fum- 
mo  cum  Gaudio  ad  inferviendas  Animas  Barbarorum  ifto- 
rum,  a  quibus  jam  acceptus  eft  ficut  Angelus  DeL  la 
Prasfentia  Gubernatoris  et  Senatorum,  prsefentibus  quoq; 
Indis  et  Anglorum  Congregatione,  Die  Dominico  confe- 
cratus  fuit,  Augufl\  31  1735.  Jamdudum  quadraginta 
baptizavit,  Peccata  confitentes  et  deferentes.  Ignari  illi 
et  rudes  Mutationem  in  feipfis  admirantur,  potifTimum 
quoad  Cupidinem  Potiis  et  Ebrietatis,  quae  fuit  dilectifii- 
ma  illorum  Deftruflio.  ct  Vere,  Opus  eft  Dei>  et  mira- 
bile  in  Oculis  no(his> 

Benedidlus   fit  Amabilis  D.  de  Reck,  in  Tranfportatio^ 

ne  fecunda,  et  Saltzburgienjes  tuos  chariffimos  confervet 

Deus  fupcr  altura  Mare  ad  Portum  ufque  Defideratum, 

et  fedem  Stabilem  et  Quietam.     Tecum,  Domine,  fem- 

per  refideat  Spiritus  Sandtus  •,  Gratiis  fuis  et  Donis  pretio- 

ciffimis,  per  totam   Vitam  privatam  et  publicam,  "  ad 

"  abfolvendum  curfum  tuum  cum  Gaudio,  et  Minifterh- 

*'  um  quod  accepifti  a  Domino  Jefn,  ad  teftiRcandum 

"  Evangelium  Gratis  Dei  !  "  Nee  unquam  oblivifcaris, 

in  Precibus  veftris  ardentifllrnis,  Ecclefiarum  Nov-dngfo- 

rivn,  Excellentise  fuaf,  noftri  Gubernatoris,  Paftor.um.de- 

••.^humilium,  inter  qnos  fpeciatim  numerabis, 

P>,  D.  Reverenure  vcftrne  addidlilTimum  Fratrern 

in  MHmtfcnd  CIiriO:5  Benjamin 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.'  155 

^  Reverendifllmo  Domino  D.Benjamin  Colman^  Servo 
Jefu  Chrifti  apud  Boftonienfes  dexterrimo,  et  S.  The 
ologian  Dodlori  meritifiimo  Salutem  ex  Cruce  Jefu 
plurimam  dicit  Samuel  Ulfperger. 
Ave,  Vir  Reverendiffime  in  centre  Mifericordiae  di- 
vinae,  perfuafumq;  habe,  Literas  tuas  d.  22  Martii  Anno 
elapfo  ad  me  exaratas   mihi  fuifle   quam  jucundifiimas. 
Veneror  enim  Excel  lentiffimum  Dn.  B  etcher ,  cujus  Nod- 
tiam  ampliorem  mihi  dedifti  ;  Veneror  tuam,  quam  mihi 
demonftrafti  Amicitiam  •,    Lastor  eximiis  Gratias  divinse 
Operibus,   quse  inter  vos  et  vicinos  Indos  Houffatonnoc  in 
maximam  Jefu  Chrifti  Gloriam  ftatuta  hucufq-,  funt,  et 
lastifilmam  futurorum  maximorum  Eventuum  Spem  faci- 
unt.   Nee  minori  Jastitia  perftifus  fui,  dum  legebam,  quan- 
to  defiderio  feraris,  ipfemet  feratur  amplifilmus  Magiftra- 
tus,  ferantur  etiam  Sacerdotes  veftri  digniflimi  ad  com- 
moda  Salijburgenfium  Fratrum  promovenda,  Eben  Ezera- 
nofq-,   illos  multa  ope  adjuvandos.     Servet  vobis  Deus 
Animum  iftum  benevolentifllmum  inEcclefiamChrifti  vo 
bis  concreditam,  in  finitimos  Paganos  ad  Fidem  Chrifti 
adducendos,  inq;  Exules  Salijburgenfes^  et  in  me,  illorurn 
quafi  Patrem,   ut  quos  ob  Evangelium  Chrifti  in  Corde 
meo  geftare  foleo  quotidie.     Remuneretur  vobis  largiffi- 
ma  Benedi6tione  in  coeleftibus  ea  omnia,   quas  ex  Amore 
Jefu  Chrifti,inq-,  dulciflimi  ejus  NominisGloriam  fufcepiftig 
hadlenus,   et  poft  hac  quoq*,  conaturi  eftis.     Floreat  fub 
Regimine  perilluftris  Domini  Bekberi  veftri  Res  publica 
crefcat  tuo  Minifterio  Ecclefia,  vireat  amceniflima  Aca- 
demia   veftra,  ut  ex  Collegio  Harvardino  pofthac  quoq; 
prodeant  Viri  omni   Charifmatum   fpendore  corufcantes 
atq*,  ad  omne  Opus  bonum  turn  in  Politia,  turn  in  Eccle 
fia  atq-,  Schola  efficiendum  inftrudliffimi.     Pergat  Deus, 
Ope  fua  Reverendo  D.Sargent  adfiftere,ut  Indorum  Apo- 
ftolus  fadlus  totam  Nationern  iftam  Chrifto   lucrifaciat. 
Vere  enim  magnum  eft,  quod  de  illis  fcribebas,  quadra- 
ginta  eorum  jam  baptifatos  efTe,  non  tantum  confitentes 
peccata  fua,  fed  etiam  deferentes.     Hoc  illi  modo  non 
minus  ad  Salutis  a  Chrifto  partas  Fruitionem,  quam  Ag- 

nitionem 


156  fbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

nitionem  perdncuntur.     Faveat  Deus  huic  Inftituto  falu- 
berrimo  !  Forfan  etiam  aliquando  Eben  Ezerana  Ecclefia 
focias  Manns  in  convertendis  Indis  ad  Fidem  Salvificam 
prasbere  poterit,  dummodo  ilia  externis  prius  Vitae  Subfi- 
diis   fufficienter  inftructa  fuerit.     Vere  enim  jam  lucent 
tanquam  Stellulae  in  Tenebris  Indornm,  non  tantum  Doc- 
trinae  Puritate,  quam  Difciplina^  et  Vitse  Integritate,  *m- 
de  eft  ut  bene  illis  cupiam,illofq;  adeo  hac  quoq;  vice  tibi 
de  meliori  propter  Chriftum,   cujus  Nomen  digne  proh> 
tentnr  commendem.    Quas  de  Magnalibus  Dei  inter  nos 
fcire  defideras,  eorum  aliquot  peculiar!  Scriptione,  hifce 
Literis  annexa,  confignavi.     Pergite  Viri  optimi,  precibus 
veftris  adjuvare  Ecclefia m  Chrifti  Bohemicam,  certe  non 
contemnendis  Aufibus  ex  Papatu  enitentem.     Magnos 
adhuc  fperamas  Regni  Chrifti  Succeffus,   turn  inter  hos, 
eorumq-,  Fratres  Carintbios,   Moravos,  Stirios^  imo  et  in. 
^///^^^//wyallibusSuperftites  ;  quemadmodum  et  ma- 
jori  quam  fuperioribus  Seculis  nifu  atq;  Frudlu  Chriftusju- 
dseorum  Genti  cum  viva  Voce  annunciatur  per  duosTheo- 
logix  ftudiofos,  qui  Judasorum  Converfioni  totos  fefe  de- 
derunt,  omnesq-,Regiones  peregrare  ftudent,  turn  Scriptis 
huic  operi  infervientibusquas  Typis  publicata  funt,  atq;  in 
Judaeorum  Manus  tradunt,cuiOperae  clariflimus  Calknber- 
gius,  Hallenfium  Profeflbr  egregiae  ftudet,  et  jam  pluri- 
mos  Libros  Novi  Teftamenti  in  Judasorum  Idioma  Ger- 
manicum   converfos  divulgavit  ;    ex  quo  Tempore  non 
pauci  Judasorum   excitati   funt  de  Adventu  Chrifti  jam 
facto  magis  ferio  quam  an  tea  cogitare,  et  alii  revera  Chri 
ftum  anirplexi  funt.     Ecclefia  Patria  Wurtembergica^ "  hb- 
bis  v/icina  variis  antea  Procellis  fatis  jactata,  et  propediem 
tanturn  non  extinguenda,  mirabili  Dei  Auxilio  faucibus 
Papasis,  quse  illi  inhiabant,  prserepta,  et  peffima  quasvis 
Concilia  inopinata  prorfus  Principis   Morte  fufflaminata 
funt.     Digna  profedlo  Res,  quae  ad  extremes  Mundi  Fi 
nes  in  Gloriam  Dei  perfonet  ;  qui  et  hanc  gregis  fui  Par- 
tern  porro   dcfendat  et  fervare  velit  ufq;  ad  Confumrna- 
tionem  Seculi  !  Perge,  fi  placet,  Nova  Regni  Chrifti  in 
ter  vcs  llorentis  nobis  pcrfcribere  \  pcrgam  et  ego  recen- 

fere 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN; 

fere  quasnam  incrementa  Res  chriftiana  inter  nos  capiat. 
Pergemus  invicem  afflidam  Jefu  Chrifti  Ecclefiam  eju£ 
dem  Tutelae  Regimini  et  Solatio,  Amplification!  et  Con- 
fervationi  Precibus  comrriendare  ardentiffimis.  Servet 
vos,  fervet  nos,  tandemq;  falvet  gratiofiffime  in  aeter- 
num  ut  Meriti  pro  nobis  praeftiti.  In  hoc  vale  Vir  Re- 
verendiflime,  valeat,  perilluftris  Dominus  Belcher ,  vale- 
ant  quoq;  Reverendus  Dominus  Sargent,  omnefq;  Jefum 
incorrupte  inter  vos  amantes.  Id  quod  precor 

Reverendiffimi  Nominis  Tui 

Aug.  Vindelicorum  d  10.  Studiofifiimus  'd 

Apr.  1737.  Samuel  Urlfperger.'^ 

• .  *!  c-iJ 

And  here  it  may  be  as  proper  as  any  where  in  this 
Narrative  to  record  the  Favour  done  Mr.  Colman  by  the 
ancient  and  learned  Univerfity  of  Glafgow,  in  conferring 
on  him  the  higheft  Academical  Honours  —  the  Degree 
of  Doctor  in  Divinity,  and  fending  him  a  Diploma  figned 
and  .fealed  according  to  the  Cuftoms  of  that  illuftrious 
Senate,  which  was  delivered  to  him  by  his  Excellency 
Governour  Belcher,  Nov.  i.  1731.— It  is  here  inferted 
For  the  Sake  of  fome  among  our  felves. 

"  Senatus  Academic  Glafgovienfis  Cbriftiano  Lettori 

Salutem. 

>.  Viri  admodum  Reverendi  Benjamini  Colman  apud 
Nov<ff  Angli*  Boftonienfes  Verbi  Divini  Miniftri  turn  mo- 
rum  Sanclimonium  et  Pietatem  vere  Chriftianam,  turn 
Ingenium,  Eruditionem  ac  Literarum  facrarum  Peritiam, 
adeo  nobis  compertse  dederunt  et  probatae  graviflimse 
Laudationes,  et  nobis  commendantium  teftimonia  fide 
digniffima,  ut  dignum  omnino  cenfeamus  Virum  Rever 
end  um  quern  fummis  afficiamus  Honor  ilus  Academic  is. 
c  Diftum  propteria  Virum  Reverendum  Benjaminum 
Colman  Doftorali  in  Sacro  Sancla  Th^ologia  Dignitate  or- 
nandum  decrevimus  :  Eumque  Tbeologi*  Doclorem  CKC- 
avimus,  declaravimus,  et  renunciavimus  :  et  his  eum  Lite- 
jfis  Doftorsm  Tbeologi*  creamus,  declaramus,  et  renuncia- 
mus ;  Eumqne  cunda  Erivilegia  et  jura  Theologize  Doc- 

toribus^ 


158  We  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

toribus  ufquam  Gentium  concefla  vel  concedi  folita  con- 
cedimus  nos  et  tribuimus  Lubentiflime. 

In  quorum  iidcm  Literas  hafce  majore  Academise 
noftras  Sigillo  munitas  Dabamus  Glafgu*,  28  Mail. 
MDCCXXXI." 

This  Cbarafter  and  Dignity  (which  his  eminent  Endow 
ments  andServices  had  long  merited)  he  ever  ftudied  and 
endeavoured  to  aft  up  unto  and  adorn  •,  and  was  happily 
affifted  fo  to  anfwer  its  Obligations,  as  neither  to  be  envi 
ed,  or  defpifed  by  any. 

Here  follows  the  humble  Record  he  makes  of  it  ;  and 
the  Letters  it  occafioned  him  to  write. 

Bofton9Nov.  10.  1731^ 

On  the  firft  Inftant,  His  Excellency  Governor  Belcher 
delivered  me  a  Diploma  from  the  Univerfity  of  Glafgow, 
afked  by  the  Honourable  and  Reverend  Society  for  the 
propagating  Chriftian  Knowledge,  at  Edinburgh  ;  upon, 
the  Receipt  whereof  I  wrote  the  following  Letters, 
;l  -.it. 

"  Bofton.  Nov-Angl.  Nov.  2.  1731'^ 

Doctiflimo  et  Reverendiffimo   Senatui  Academic 
Glafguenjis. 

Cum  illuftri  Univerfitati  veftrae  placuit,  Me  prorfus  in- 
dignum  unanimi  fufFragio  DodVorem  in  S.  S.  Theologia 
conftituiffe  et  renunciafTe,ficut  ex  Diplomate  heri  accepto 
conftat,  grata  mea  Agnitio  pro  tantoHonore  et  Favore 
humilime  fe  prsebet. 

Fateor  me,  Divina  Providentia  et  Patientia,  Miniftrum 
et  Paftorem  inauguratum  fuiffe  a  pud  Bo&onienfes,  natali 
Oppido,  per  Annos  triginta  duos  ;  et  quatuor  noviffimos 
Natu  maximum  :  Et  inde  neceflario  in  me  venit  Nimium 
Cura  Ecclefiarum  hujus  florentiffimas  Provincias.  Statio 
heu  quanta  !  Animo  tarn  debili  et  infirmo. 

Attamen  praeter  Officia  Curse  Paftoralis,  evocavit  me 
Divina  Benignitas  ad  Minifteria  fingularia  in  Commodum 
et  Emolumentum  Academiae  noftrae,  chariffimas  meas 
Matris,  Collegii  Harvardini,  Nee  ingrati  fuernnt  Senatus 

Collegii, 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMA N^ w'  '      1 59 

Gollegii,  ct  Academise  Curatorcs,  quum  Annis  fex  jam 
elapfis  in  Cathedram  Prasfidis  me  eligerunt.  Et  nunc, 
quamobrem  nefcio,  Academia  Glafguenfis,  multo  magis 
nobilis  et  infignis,  fponte  reddic  Honores  adaequales  iis, 
quos  confcia  mente  diu  rccufavi. 

Certe  Academia  noftra  hnmilis  non  fibi  arrogat  Potef- 
tatem  conferendi  Gradum  Dodloralem,  vel  Theologize, 
vel  Medicinae,  vel  Juris  Civilis.  Dignitates  igitur  hujufce 
Generis  funt  apud  nos  majoris  Pretii,quum  ex  Longinquo, 
nee  quaefita^  libere  tranfmittuntur. 

Medium,  feu  Via  veftras  Communicationis,  mihi  et 
Fratri  meo  chariffimo  D.  D.  Sewallo,  Exiftimatione  noftra 
AccefTio  eft  Honoribus  tranfmiflis  ;  fcil,  Nominado  ho- 
noratlffima^  et  Reverendiffim^e  Societatis  Scotican^e^  ad 
propagandum  Cognitionem  Chrifti  Ejufq;  Evangelii,  fub 
iigiHo  Regali  delegate  ;  Una  et  Liters  Commendatitias 
Excellentifiimi  Dom.  noftri  Gubernatoris  Belcher ;  Cujus 
Pietas  erga  Deum  et  Integritas  coram  Hominibus,  asque 
ac  Prascellentia  in  omni  liberali  Doftrina  et  politifTima 
Arte,  fellam  Curulem  apud  nos  abunde  promereant  et 
adornant. 

Debemus  igitur  exiftimare  nos  ipfos  magis  magifq;  de- 
vindtos,  alacriter  et  toto  Pedlore  Operam  dare  (Deo  ad- 
juvante)  in  Minifterio  Evangelii,  et  in  Miflione  ilia  fpecia - 
tim  ad  Indos  Aborigines  in  his  Regionibus  difperfos  ; 
quorum  Illuminatio  in  Dodlrina  Chrifti  falvifica,  et  Con- 
verfio  a  Tenebris  ad  Lucem,  et  a  Poteftate  Satanse  ad 
Deum,  eft  Supplicatio  et  Cura  Venerandae  Societatis,  et 
Depodtum  (  Grande  quidem  )  nobis  ConcredLturn. 

Per  multos  Annos  jamdudum  miniftravi^Delegatione  fb- 
dalitii  HonoratifljmiZW/»^j,Indis  convertis  in  his  Regi 
onibus  -,  quorum  nonnulli  regulariter  inEcclefiascolliguntur 
fub  Indis  Paftoribus;  Cjeteri  coluntDeum'm  NomineChrifti 
Conventibus  multo  minoribus  :  Omnes  fub  Cura  Infpec- 
tione  et  Dodlrina  Paftorum  Anglicorum  vicinalium  :  Et 
etiam  ufqv  ad  Senedlutem  et  Canitiem>  Deus  ne  deferas 
me  !  ut  libenter  progrediar  omni  ftudio  perfequi  pia  Pro- 
pofita  a  Scotia  jam  nobis  mandata  j  longius  extendereNo- 

tlciam 


160        V%e  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

titiam  et  verum  Cultum  Unici  Dei,  et  Domini  noftri  Sal- 
vatoris,  Ethnicis  Orientalibus  finitimis, 

Adjuvate  nos  Precibus  veftris,  Reverendi  Fracres  ;  Pa 
ul  Luminum  et  Mifericordise  ;  et  libenter  folvetis  nullus 
dubito  :  quod  Inflatu  Spiritus  San<5ti,Animofius  et  Eventu 
profpero  miniftrare  poffimus,  ad  Incrementum  Regni  Jefu 
Chrifti  in  his  nnperrime  fedibus  Tenebrarum. 

Deus  O.  M.  diu  confervet  et  benedicat  felici  veftrse 
Univerfitati,  et  dileclifiimis  Ecclefiis  Scotia  -3  et  Temper 
adfit  Miniftris  fuis  fidelibus,  et  Mifllonariis  in  omni  Terra, 
ufq-,  ad  Extremitates  Orbis. 

Valete  Viri  Dodiflimi  et  Reverendiflimi.  Sum  Vef- 
trum  Obfervantifllmus  et  Addicliffimus, 

Benjamin  Colman.'\ 

.:"/.':i.  •; 

"  To  the  very  Reverend  and  Honourable  the  Vice-' 
Chancellor  and  Principal  of  the  Univerfity  of 
Glafgow. 

The  Inclofed  waits  upon  your  illuftrious  Senate,  to 
acknowledge  the  the  unmerited  Honour  they  have  done 
me,  in  the  Diploma  lately  received  from  them.  As  Pro 
vidence  has  fat  me  here  in  the  Place  of  the  late  Rev.  and 
learned  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  the  fenior  Paftor  of  this  City  ', 
fo  you  have  been  pleafed  to  grace  me  with  like  Favours, 
which  you  firft  honoured  him  with.  It  will  be  mine  and 
my  Brother  Sewalfs  Ambition,  to  tread  in  the  Steps  of 
fo  worthy  a  PredeceiTor,  and  by  our  Services  to  the  In- 
tereft  of  Religion  and  Learning,  to  render  our  felves 
worthy  of  the  Regards  you  have  fhown  us. 

Nor  will  it  be  a  fmall  Service,  I  judge,  to  the  Churches 
of  this  flourifhing  City  and  Province,  if  your  renowned 
Univerfity  pleafe  from  Age  to  Age  to  felect  and  dignify 
an  eminent  Paftor  or  two  with  your  higheft  academical 
Honours ;  That  in  Character  and  Style  they  may  appear 
equal  to  the  affuming  Gentlemen  of  the  Epifcopal  Pro- 
Feffion  who  are  growing  on  us,  while  in  Labours  and 
Humility  as  well  as  Learning  I  truft  they  will  not  be 
content  to  be  meerly  Equal. 

As 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  Co  L  M  A  N,  i-Gt 

fc :.,,..  ;. 

As  our  very  trading  Town  is  like  through  all  Times  to 
keep  a  conftant  Correfpondence  with  Glafgow  in  the  Way 
of  Commerce,  fo  if  it  be  agreeable  to  any  of  your 
learned  Body  to  honour  us  with  the  like,  in  Re  Literaria 
et  Sacro-Sanfla^  we  (hall  efteem  it  a  great  Favour. 

If  I  fail,  Sir,  in  the  Direftion  or  Style  proper  to  the 
Principal  of  your  illuftrious  Academy,  I  fliall  be  obliged 
by  your  candid  Correction. 

Pleafe  to  let  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Society  at  Edinburgh 
know  our  Senfe  of  the  fuper-added  Obligation  they  have 
laid  us  under,  by  aiking  thefe  Honours  for  us,  to  be  their 
diligent  and  faithful  Servants,  in  promoting  the  Mifllpns 
committed  to  us,  for  the  propagating  chriftian  Knowledge 
in  our  Borders:  Although  we  fliould  not  at  all  have 
needed  any  fuch  Incitement  to  fo  good  a  Service.  The 
Love  of  Chriftand  Souls  (I  hope  )  conftraineth  us  hereto. 

I  have  heretofore  by  the  Hand  of  my  Rev.  correfpend- 
ing  Friend  and  Brother,  Mr.  Woodrow  of  Eaftwood,  afked 
a  Place  for  fome  of  my  poor  Writings  in  your  Library  ; 
Wherein  I  own  I  have  prefumed  to  do  my  felf  too  much 
Honour  ;  But  fmce  it  has  pleafed  the  Univerfity  to  inrol 
me  now  among  her  Sons,  I  mall  not  repent  of  it,  but  only 
afk  the  Prayers  and  Bleffing  of  your  Rev.  Body,  and 
your  Leave  always  to  fubfcribe  my  felf  among, 

Sir,  your  moft  obliged,  grateful 
Eojlon,  Nov.  5.  1731.  and  obedient  Servants, 

Benjamin  Cclman. 

•  I  take  Leave  to  cover  a  Copy  of  fome  of  my  lafl 
Writings  to  each  of.  the  learned  Gentlemen,  who  have 
honoured  me  with  their  Names  to  the  Diploma." 

"  To  the  Honourable  and  Reverend  Society  for  the 

Propagating  chriftian  Knowledge,  at  Edinburgh. 
Honourable  and  Reverend, 

Your  Letter  dated  April  29,  which  accompanied  yonr 
Commiflion  to  his  Excellency  our  Governor,  conftkiiting 
a  Number  of  worthy  Gentlemen  here    your  Commif- 
Tioners  and  correfponding  Members,  to  aflift  in  your  truly 
X  pious 


i6z  ne  LIFE  ^CHARACTER 

pious  and  noble  Defign  (  by  the  Will  of  God  )  to  pro 
pagate  Religion  among  the  Salvages  bordering  on  the 
Provinces  of  New-England^^  me  under  a  particular  Ob 
ligation  to  make  this  feparate  Anfwer  and  grateful  Ac 
knowledgment  of  the  Honour  which  the  illudrious  So 
ciety  have  been  pleafed  to  do  me  in  their  naming  me  to 
the  rnoft  Reverend  and  Learned  Senate  of  the  Academy 
at  Glafgow,  who  have  fent  me  their  Diploma,  creating 
me  Doctor  of  Divinity  4" 

How  unworthy  foever  I  mud  hold  my  felf  of  this 
Style  and  Character,  yet  am  I  the  more  obliged  to  purfue 
with  all  my  Power  the  truly  pious  and  chriftian  Intention 
of  the  honourable  Society  ;  to  which  they  mould  have 
found  me  equally  inclined  and  ready  without  the  Motive 
of  fo  diftinguifhing  a  Refpect. 

The  Recommendation  of  fo  excellent  a  Perfon  as  our 
prefent  Governour  Bdcher,  who  merits  the  Chair  over  us 
by  his  Humanity,  Politenefs  and  Literature,  but  much 
more  by  his  Virtue,  Integrity  and  Piety,  adds  not  a  little 
to  the  Honour  done  us. 

I  have  been  many  Years  pad  Miniftring  to  the  Natives 
here,  by  Commifiion  from  the  honourable  Indian  Corpo 
ration  at  London  ;  And  ftill  fhall  gladly  go  on  in  old  Age 
to  minifter  by  the  Will  of  God  under  this  new  Commif* 
(ion  to  us  from  Scotland ;  Whofe  Church-Order,  Worfhip 
and  Difcipline  is  glorious  in  our  Eyes  -,  for  the  more  ex- 
tenfive  Propagation  of  Religion  in  our  Eaftern  or  Weftern 
Borders,  among  the  Aborigines^  Strangers  or  Enemies  to 
our  Faith  and  Worfhip. 

Our  chofen  Secretary  and  Treafurer,  Anthony  Stoddard^ 
Efq,  will  inform  the  Hon,  and  Rev.  Society  of  ourfirft' 
Meeting,  the  Reading  of  your  Commifiion  to  us,  and 
that  fome  of  us  are  appointed  to  look  out  for  finable 
Perfons  to  ferve  in  the  three  chofen  Stations  for  the  pro- 

f  Some  Letters  are  found  in  the  Do&or's  Study  which  fhow 
that  lefore  this  Motion  was  made  he  was  upon  the  Lift  for  the  next  Pre 
ferment Dr.  Calamy  and  others  in  London  thought  him  aftually 

doelorated  and  Congratulate  him  upon  it. 

pofed 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  0  L  M  A  N.  1 63 

pofed  MifTion,  to  whom  I  refer.  Help  us,  mod  Rev. 
Brethren,  with  your  Prayers,  while  you  excite  us  by  your 
Favours.  And  may  the  fpecial  Prefence  of  God  ever 
attend  your  Counfeis,  and  his  BlefTing  all  your  Endea 
vours  ;  as  well  as  all  his  Minifters  and  Miffionaries  at 
Home  and  Abroad. 

I  am, 
Reverend  and  Honourable, 

your  obliged  obedient 
Bojion,  Nov.  6.  1731%$      humble  Servant, 

Benjamin  Colman" 
t;:o"b*rich  &nie  ",?•«&'  ehl  Jufcg'jQfb  t>rl  H^U^l 

For  a  Clofe  of  this  Chapter  I  fhall  hint  ar,  and  remark 
upon  Dr.  Caiman's  Character  for  Publick-Spiritednefs, 
Fidelity,  Liberality  and  Charity. 

.'By  the  foregoing  Pages  it  appears  that  the  Dottor  had 
a  large  and  generous  Soul,  and  made  his  Life  as  fignificant 
to  the  World,  and  to  his  own  Nation  and  Country  in  par 
ticular  as  he  poflibly  could.  He  might  perhaps  with  as 
much  Juftice  as  any  one  have  taken  thefe  Words  of  the 
Apoftle  for  his  Motto,  Rorn,  xiv.  7.  None  of  us  livetbto 
bimfelf. 

In  every  Stage  of  Life  there  are  fome  notable  Diflo- 
veries  of  his  acting  agreeable  to  it —  He  could  fay  with 
the  Stoicks,  A  generous  Attion  is  a  Reward  to  it  felf.  Thro* 
all  his  coftly  and  painful  (to  him  pleafant  and  delightful) 
Correfpondence  with  Mr.  Holden  and  Mefiirs.  Hollis's  &c. 
&c.  &c.  he  never  afked  any  Thing  for  himfelf.  And 
when  he  was  offered  and  prefled  to  accept  of  a  Set  of 
valuable  Books  by  Mr.  Thomas  Hollis,  he  refufed  taking 
them  on  any  other  Condition  than  their  going  to  the  Col 
lege  at  his  Death,  where  he  ordered  them  by  his  Will. 
Therefore  in  the  Dedication  of  his  Twenty  Sacramental 
Sermons  he  could  fay,  "  I  had  no  private  Interefl  in 
View.  Nor  have  I  ever  had  any  private  or  oblique  Re- 
fpefl  to  my  felf  in  the  long  Courfe  of  Letters  that  have 
palTed  between  us  for  more  than  feven  Years  pad.— 
I  appeal  to  you.  Sir,  if  I  have  not  acted  toward  you 

and 


LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

and  ^my    Country  a    fincere,    open    and    difmterefted 

*  artg  •  •;:•::>  uo  / 

'  He  was  fingularly  Faithful™  the  numerous  Trufts 
repofed  in  him.  Although  there  was  a  lirge  Liberty 
fometimes  given  him  to  difpofe  of  many  Hundred  Pounds 
in  Books  and  Monies  (as  he  faw  Caufe)  yet  he  endeavour- 
cd  with  the  exafteft  Care  and  moil  diligent  Study  to  find 
cut  the  Mind  of  the  Donor  from  his  general  Directions  : 
And  ever  kept  and  fent  a  particular  Account  of  every 
Farthing  diftributed  (to  what  Ufe,  &c.J  to  his  Employers 
He  was  anxioufiy  fearful,  lead  any  Monies  in  his  keepincr 
Ihould  at  his  Death  be  thought  his  own,  and  therefor? 
not  only  told  his  Friends  from  Time  to  Time  what  he 
had,  but  alfo  wrote  upon  it,  and  gave  fpecial  Orders 
about  it  in  his  Will. 

I  fhaH  add  no  more  here—  As  the  Dottor  devifed  li 
beral  Things,  and  warmly  and  prudently  provoked  others 
to  Love  and  good  Works  ;  fo  according  to  his  Ability 
and  fometimes  beyond  it  he  freely  gave  of  his  own  pro 
per  Goods.f  When  Subfcriptions  for  pious  and  chari* 
table  Ufes  were  fet  on  Foot  among  us,  his  Name  is  ge 
nerally  ieen  among  the  firft  Subfcribers.  The  Poor  re 
paired  to  him  as  their  Father  with  a  filial  Confidence  in 
their  Wfants.  He  was  alfo  fingularly  liberal  and  gene 
rous  in  rewarding  fuch  as  he  employed  .in  any  Affairs 
whatfoever.  :;B  )C&\K.: 
.rsi  a*u$WA  .?.l!fbM  bns  K&W&  .- 

*  "  '  '•'  j 

t  Early  Inftances  of  his  Charity  and  Generofity  in  fome  of  the 
M  Chapters  of  thls  Narranve. 

Ii53n  Af  o:ii  ni  -/x-1  j 

m  iltftotil  feMhq-  fei  l^jlf'l^^jfst  '^Kbofi  **& 
*$51  trt/pifdcr  10  sTBvhq  irw 'biaf  t^o  1  r/s  d  v 

. 

C  H  A  P, 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  0  L  M  A  N.  jg  - 


CHAP.     VIII. 

t^       I 

His  Manner  of  Studying- — Writing  Ser 
mons  and  Letters — His  Diligence,  Ap 
plication  and  Difpatch— T  Charader  of 
fome  of  his  Writings — His  Manner  of 

Preaching,   Praying Thoughts    on 

Pfalmody— -Reading  the  Scriptures,  — 
Ufmg  the  Lord's  Prayef —  Catechifmg 
—  Vifiting—  Letters  of  Conr  '  ' 

Mt        *•*.  ^^ 


'tiim 
ls  m-. 

A  FTER  having  obferved  and  given  fo  many  Inftances 
*  *  of  the  Doctor's  catholick  Chanty,  difinterefted  Ge- 
nerofity,  and  inviolable  Fidelity  in  the  many  important 
Trufts  repofed  in  him  (in  the  preceeding  Chapters)  I  come 
^W].^.deiin^ate1f??le  other  Parts  of  his  Character,  which 
alfo  diftinguifhed  him  ;  aTid  for>  which  'he  was  iuftly  ad 
mired,  as  an  extraordinary  Perfon  among  us. 

Reading,  and  clofe  Application  of  Mind  to  Study  was 
early,  and  ever  his  Delight—  He  read  much,  and  digeft- 
ed  well  the  various  Authors  he  pcrufed  ;  and  often  col- 
leded  from  them  what  was  curious  and  ufeful,  as  appears 
by  many  Sheets  left,  and  numerous  Quotations  in  Ms 
Sermons.*  • 

In  his  younger  Times  he  was   a   Night-  Student,   by 

which  has  Health  was  greatly  impaired,  and  heexperienc- 

i  of  that  Saying  in  Erafmm,  <  Noffurn*  L& 


bcfthoraanf°0<    LiSrar^not   lar£e>  but  wifely  colleaed  of  the 
ft  Authors  ancient   and  modern.-  He  retained  confiderable  of  his 

*m       °     6  J  fihim  t0  have  read  ««  *»**  ^ 

fomc  of  the  moft  beautiful  Lines 

wtrationes 


1 66  SGte  LIFE  **</  CHARACTER 

cubratioms  longe  periculoji(jim<e  habentur.  In  his  latter 
Years  he  plied  his  Studies  chiefly  in  the  Forenoon,and  or 
dinarily  fpent  the  whole  of  it  in  them.  And  he  has  been 
heard  to  fay  on  the  Verge  of  Seventy,  "  That  he  found 
himfelf  beft  in  Health  and  Spirit,  at  his  Table  with  a 
Book  or  Pen  in  his  Hand. —  All  mud  be  hufhed  and  flill 
when  he  was  there  employed  either  in  Reading,  writing 
Letters  or  compofing  Sermons —  He  wrote  many  Hun 
dred  Epiftles  in  a  Year — (Nulla  Dies  fine  Epiftolis)  to  all 
Ranks  of  Perfons  ;  on  all  Occafions  and  Bufinefles,  and 
with  greateft  Eafe  imaginable,  to  the  vaft  PJeafure  and 
Profit  of  his  Friends,  the  Benefit  of  his  Country  and  the 
Churches  in  it  -,  and  the  Good  of  Mankind.—-  His  Let 
ters  to  his  Correfpondents  abroad  being  feen  and  admired, 
created  him  new  Friends  and  were  a  happy  Means  of 
railing  up  new  Benefactors  to  thefe  Provinces  (as  appears 
from  what  has  been  already  written) —  I  need  not  there 
fore  here  obferve  to  my  Readers,  how  good  a  Mafter  he 
was  of  the  Epiitolary  Stile — The  Letters  already  infert- 
cd  and  others  to  be  publifhed  in  our  Narrative  fhallfpeak 
for  themfelves.f 

When  he  was  about  making  a  Sermon,  after  he  had 
firft  looked  up  to  H^^n  for  Affiftance,  he  chofe  a 
Text,  and  coDiulted  the  beft  Expofitors  upon  it  (particu 
larly  the  Rev.  Mr.  Matthew  Henry,  for  whofe  Writings 
he  feems  to  have  had  the  greateftValue  next  to  the-facred 
Scriptures)and  then  drew  theScheme  of  it  on  loofePapers, 
and  noted  down  not  only  general  Heads  and  Subdivifions, 
but  alfo  fomeof  the  moll  leading  Thoughts  and  bright- 
eft  Quotations  from  Authors  (around  him)  with  many 
Pafiages  of  Scripture  for  Proof  and  Illuftration. —  Thus 
prepared  he  proceeded  to  write  his  Sermon  on  a  Sheet  of 
Paper  neatly  folded  and  ftitched,  which  he  fometimes  fi- 
niflied  with  a  Celerity  and  Exaftnefs  incredible.  I  have 


i  And  yet  as  I  obferved    in  my    Introduction,  all  or  the  moft  of 
them  are  printed  off  from  the  firft  rough  Draught. 

known 
*& 


ef  Dr.  B  E  N  j  A  M  i  N  C  o  L  M  A  N.  167 

known  him  begin  and  compleat  a  Difcourfe  that  would 
laft  an  Hour  at  one  Sitting  in  a  Forenoon.*  Few  In 
terlines  or  Emendations  were  afterward  inferred  or 
needed.f 

Many  of  the  Sermons  he  wrote  and  delivered  at  Eatb 
in  England  forty-eight  Years  ago,  are  yet  to  be  feen  in 
his  Study  (all  fair  and  clean)  ibme  of  them  in  a  Volume 
in  the  Bulk  and  Form  of  a  Preaching  Bible,  and  others  in 
diftinct  Sheets.  How  pleafant  a  Sight  if  it  were  only  for 
the  Orthography  of  them  !  ||  Befides  vaft  Numbers  fince 
made  and  delivered  to  his  People  here  \  many  of  which 
he  took  Pains  to  prepare  for  the  Preis. 

Some  of  theDifcourfes  he  has  favoured  the  World  with 
were  printed  from  the  firft  rough  draught  4-  and  not  a 
few  have  been  honoured  with  divers  Impreflions.** 

And  here  although  (as  we  hinted  in  the  Introduction) 
I  am  every  way  unfit  to  give  the  Dottor  and  his  Writings 
their  juft  Praifes  yet  I  will  venture  to  fay  a  few  Things 
more  of  him  and  them. 

As  a  Preacher  he  was  emulous  to  excel,  and  fecond 
to  none  among  the  bright  Sons  of  New-England  either 
living  or  deceafed.  He  always  brought  Light  and  Heat 
into  the  Pulpit  with  him,  u>  ; reprove  the  Minds  and 
affect  the  Hearts  of  his  Hearers,  and  appc*«*Lt/>  Jbe  in 
his  proper  Element  there.  His  exact  and  exquifite 
Judgment  as  well  as  his  lively  Fancy  and  Imagination 
were  employed  in  every  Difcourfe. The  choiceft 

*  One  of  his  Twenty  Sacramental  Sermons  in  Print. 

f  And  yet  he  faw  Caufe  to  deftroy  many  of  his  Sermons.  On 
one  and  another  of  them  he  has  wrote— The  firft  three  or  five  Sermons 
on  this  Text,  are  burnt. 

||  Thefe  elaborate  Sermons  are  wrote  in  a  fine  Character  fairer 
than  Print ;  but  fo  ({mall  that  only  young  Eyes  can  read  them  — 
The  Doftor  would  fornetimes  mow  them  to  Candidates  for  the  Mini- 
ftry,  and  warn  them  to  write  their  Notes  in  a  larger  Hand. 

4.  His  excellent  Sermon  preached  at  a  Faft  before  the  Choice  of 
Mr.  William  Cooper  is  one  of  them. 

**  Scil.  His  Difcourfes  on  the  Parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins —  On 
the  Incqmprehenfiblenefs  of  God — With  many  fingle  Sermons. 

Matter 


i68          tte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Matter  prefented  in  elegant  Language  and  flowing 
Eloquence. 

His  Wifdom  and  Ingenuity  was  feen  in  the  Choice 
and  Variety  of  the  Subjects  handled  by  him  :  He  gave 
every  Truth  and  Duty  in  the  wide  Circle  of  Divinity  its 
proper  Place  and  Inculcation.  He  was  particularly  no 
ted  and  commended  for  a  nice  and  careful  Obfervation 
of  the  Face  of  divine  Providence,  towards  the  World  in 
general,  and  towards  our  Nation  and  Land,  and  for  im 
proving  every  Merciful,  Afflictive  and  judicial  Difpen- 
fation,  for  the  Benefit  of  his  Hearers  in  his  publick  Dif- 
courfes  as  well  as  private  Convcrfation  The  fpecial 

Cafes  and  Circumftances  of  his  own  Flock  and  Friends 
were  in  a  very  fingular  Manner  regarded  as  appears  by 
many  Sermons  in  print  and  Manufcripts  left  by  him.|| 

But  above  all  JESUS  CHRIST  and  the  Covenant  of 
Salvation  through  him  was  his  grand  and  favourite  Sub- 
jeft,  and  moft  ufual  Topick,  as  appears  from  his  Notes  and 
his  repeated  Declarations  to  the  World. 

"  He  preached  Jefus  Chrift  in  his  Perfon,  Natures, 
Offices,  Benefits ;  Cbrijl  in  his  eternal  Godhead^  in  the 
Covenant  of  Redemption  and  Grarp  -,  in  the  Promifes, 
Prophecies  and  Tviv  or  nim  »  In  his  Birth,  Life, 
DodWncs,  Laws,  Miracles,  Sufferings  and  Death  5  In  his 
Refurre&ion,  Afcentbn  to,  and  Scffion  at  the  Right 
Hand  of  God,  his  Interceffion  and  fecond  coming  to 
judge  the  World ;  In  Ihort  the  Covenant  of  Salvation 
through  him  r  And  every  Doctrine  and  Law  of  natural 
Religion  with  a  direct  Reference  unto  him  as  revealed  and 
enjoined  by  him,  as  performed  only  by  his  Grace,  and 
acceptable  only  for  his  Sake,  who  is  the  End  of  the  Law 
for  Rigbteoufnefs,  and  as  inforced  upon  us  by  his  Promifes 
and  Threatnings;  that  be  in  all  may  be  glorified,  and 
the  Grace  of  God  through  him. -So  it  is  noted  in  the 

. 

jj  About  Twenty-four  Funeral  Sermons  were  publifhed  by  him- 
He  never  preached  Politicks  but  when  he  faw  his  Country  in  Danger 
and  Diftrefs— — as  is  faid  of  his  Friend  Bp,  Kewet. 

:-.M 


•Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N^  I  6$ 

Life  of  Mr.  Philip  Henry,  "  that  whenever  he  preached 
"  of  moral  Duties,  he  would  always  bring  Chrift  into  his 
"  Sermon,  his  Life  as  the  Pattern  of  the  Duty,  his  Love 
"  as  the  grand  Motive  to  it,  his  Merits  as  the  great  A- 
"  tenement  for  our  Defects  in  it."  This  primitive  and 
apoftolic  Preaching  was  the  Manner  of  Dr.  Colman's 
preaching  the  Gofpel  of  the  Grace  of  God. 

Accordingly  he  has  declared  once  and  again,-f  "  This 
"  has  been  the  Favourite  Subject  in  the  Cqurle  of  my 
"  Studies  for  the  Pulpit,  I  have  ever  determined  to  know 
"  Jefus  Chrift  and  him  crucified."  "  My  Speech  and 
"  Preaching  among  you  has  been  an  Exhibition  of  the 
"  Glories  of  redeeming  Grace  and  Mercy,  from  the  Be- 
"  ginning  of  the  Bible  to  the  End  thereof.*  And  I 
doubt  not  but  he  was  often  favoured  with  moft  ravifhing 
Views  of  his  Saviour's  Glory,  while  he  was  compofing 
and  preaching  on  thefe  Heads. 

The  Doctor  had  a  moft  beautiful  Way  of  introducing 
large  Paragraphs  of  Scripture  to  enrich  his  Difcourfes  ; 
and  was  fingularly  famous  for  the  frequent  appofite  Ufe 
he  made  of  the  hiftorical  Parts  of  the  Bible  whereby  -he 
furprifingly  embellifhed  them,  and  threw  new  Light  on 
almoft  every  Subject  he  handled. §  He  often  made  Ufe 
of  Scripture,  not  for  Proof  and  Illuftration  only,  but  for 
the  Sake  of  the  infpired  Language,  p 

And  as  the  Matter  of  his  Sermons  were  weighty,  and 
the  Language  and  Stile  grand  and  polite  •,  fo  the  Manner 

•f*  See  his  Sermon,  entitled, —  7 'he  Grace  given  us  in  the  treathed 
GofpeL- 

*  See  the  Dedication  to  his  Twenty  Sacramental  Sermons —  Alfo 
his  Sermon  at  the  Ordination  of  Mr.  Samuel  Cooper,  Sec.  &c. 

§  He  [ought  to  find  acceptable  Words,  or  Words  of  Delight,  as  the 
Margin  reads  it,  Eccl.  12.  10. 

||  See  the  Preface  to  his  Parable  of  the  Ten  Virgins  printed  in 
London,  1707.  :  There  is  one  Liberty  fo  natural  to  me,  that  I  never 
*\  fteer  clear  of  it,  which  is  the  alluding  to  PaJ/ages  and  Expreffions  of 
"  Scripture,  the  which  an  unwary  Reader  may  miftake  me  to  intend 
*«  for  Proof  or  direft  Explication,  and  fo  think  them  impertinent,  as 
Sf  then  indeed  they  would  be. 

y  of 


i7o        Tie  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

of  his  Delivery,  added  Beauty  and  Force  to  them,  which 
was  grave  yet  lively,  with  a  Voice  fweet  and  harmonious, 
and  an  A6lion  fingularly  delightful  and  inimitable.  His 
Countenance  taught,  and  his  Face  (hone  as  with  a  divine 
Rayon  it  like  Mofes  reflecting  on  the  AfTembly,  and  con- 
ilraining  Attention,  Reverence  and  AffecTion.  The  elo 
quent  Orator^  is  a  juft  Stroke  in  his  Character.  He  evi 
dently  and  eminently  anfwered  that  Part  of  the  Defcrip- 
tion  of  the  Prophet  Ezekiel,  And  /<?,  tbou  art  unto  them  as 
a,  'very  lovely  Song,  of  one  that  hath  a  pkafant  Voice,  and 
can  play  well  on  an  Inftrument.  (a)  And  I  doubt  not  but 
many  while  hanging  on  his  Lips  have  thought  of  that  ami 
able  Defcription  of  Chrift's  prophetick  Office  given  us  in 
the  Canticles,  "  His  Mouth  ismojl  fweet  "(b)  But  although 
in  general  his  Voice  might  be  faid  to  be  foft  and  flill,  and 
that  his  Speech  and  Doctrine  dropt  as  the  Dew,  and  diftil- 
led  as  thefmall  Rain  upon  the  tender  Herb,  (e)  yet  when  oc- 
cafions  for  it  occurred  he  could  notably  imitate  a  Boaner 
ges,  and  play  the  Artillery  of  Heaven  againft  the  hardy 
Sons  of  Vice,  and  uncover  the  dreadful  Pit. — With  what 
Light,  and  Flame,  and  Power  have  we  fbmetimes  known 
him  difpenfe  the  Word,  and  by  the  Terrors  of  the  Lord 
perfwade  Men  in  the  Applications  of  his  Difcourfe  ?  (d) 
Yet  he  was  ever  careful  to  obferve  a  juft  Decorum  and 
Behaviour,  and  fpake  as  became  the  Oracles  of  God.  * 

•!l  Ifi?  b-:i        * 

„ -. 

'(a)  EzeK.  xxxiii.   32.      (b)  Cant,  i.  16.      (<:)  I  Kings  xix.  12. 
Deu.  xxxii.  2.     $  Vid.  Sermon  to  Pirates  from  Heb.  x.  31. 
and  from  Job  x.  22.    the  Parable  &c.  &c. 

*  Clryfofiom  excellently  obfervcth, .  That  the  Prophets  of  God  and 
Satan,  were  differenced  by  this  notorioufly,  that  they  which  gave 
Oracles  by  the  Motion  of  the  Devi/,  did  it  with  much  Impatience  and 
Confufion,  with  a  kind  of  Fury  and  Madnefs  ;  but  they  which  gave 
Oracles  from  God  by  divine  Infpiration  gave  them  with  all  MiUneft 
and  Temper  :  If  it  be  the  Caufe  of  God  which  we  handle,  then  let  us 
handle  it  like  the  Prophets  of  God,  with  Quietnefs  and  Moderation, 
and  not  with  the  Violence  of  Paifion,  as  if  we  were  pofiefTed  rather 
than  infpired,  HALE'S  Golden  Remains.  Pag  64. 

Sg 


ff  Dr.   B  E  N  J  A  M  I~N    C  0  L  M  A  N"7  "iji 

I  (hall  now  add  the  Chara&er  of  fome  of  the  Doffor's 
Publications  which  the  World  has  been  blefled  withal  [a 
compleat  Catalogue  of  which  will  be  annexed  to  this  Nar-> 

rative]  from  fome  very  good  Judges Tbefe  have  been 

all  along  juftly  admired  and  valued  by  Perfons  of  Tafte 
for  the  Vein  of  fine  Senfe,  Language  and  that  Serioufnefs 
of  Spirit  that  runs  through  them.  They  are  moftly  occa- 
fional,  and  printed  at  the  Defire  of  the  Hearers. 

On  fome  of  his  early  Works  a  Reverend  and  learned 
Perfon  in  England  writes  to  him,  • 

"  Sir,  I  am  forry  fo  many  of  your  Works  are  caft  away 
upon  France.  I  wifh  however  they  were  tranflated  into 
their  Language,  and  difperfed  among  the  People.  Such 
a  Vein.ofJSenfe  and  Piety,  fuch  a  fmooth  and  yet  ftrong 
Torrent  of  divine  Eloquence  muft  certainly(by  God's  Af- 
fiftance)  carry  all  before  it,  and  find  a  Way  into  the  mod 

So  it  is  faid  of  the  Soothfayers  of  old  that  they  delivered  their 
Speeches, 

Non  Vultus,  non  color  nnust  non  compile  manfere  Com<&, 

Sed  Peftus  Ankelum,  et  rabie  Cor  da  tument  C5V . 
I  find  his  worthy  Colleague  in  a  Sermon  preached  the  Sabbath 
after  his  Funeral,  taking  a  proper  Notice  of  his  agreablc  Manner  of 
Preaching  in  thefe  Words,  "How  folidand  elegant,  how  judicious  and 
perfwafive,  how  fcriptural  and  pungent  were  hip  Sermons?  andyet  how 
diftant  hisManner  from  the  boifterous  and  •violent— He  never  delivered  a 
Sermon  but  we  faw  how  perfectly  he  underftood  the  Decorum  of  the 
Pulpit  ;  and  the  Gravity  and  Sweetnefs  at  once  exprcfled  in  his 
Countenance,  the  Mufick  of  his  Voice,  the  Propriety  of  his  Accent, 
and  the  Decency  of  his  Gefture  mowed  him  one  of  the  moft  graceful 
Speakers  of  the  Age." 

He  was  indeed  our  New-England  Chryfoftom  on  many  Accounts. 
The  following  Lines  of  Dr.   Watts  in  his  Elegy  on  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Thomas  Gouge  are  alfo  borrowed  to  make  up  fo-r  the  Defecls  in  our 
Defcription.  " 

While  from  hjs  Tongue 

A  Stream  of  Harmony  ran  foft  along, 
And  every  Ear  drank  in  the  flowing  Good  : 

Softly  it  ran  its  Silver  Way,  #£ 

'Till  warm  Devotion  raisM  the  Current  ftrong,' 
Then  fervid  Zeal  on  the  fweet  Deluge  rode, 
Life,  Love  and  Glory,  Grace  and  Joy, 
Divinely  roll'd  promifcuous  on  the  Torrent  Flood 
And  bore  our  raptur'd  Senfe,  and  Thoaghts  and  Souls  to  GocL 

hardned 


fhe  L I  F  E  and  C  H  A  R  A  C  T  E  R 

hardned  Souls. 1  am  not  afraid  to  fay,  that  I  think  the 

Sermons  of  America  may  be  a  Pattern  for  the  politeft,  the 
mod  nervous,  and  affectionate  Preachers  of  Europe."  t 

The  Reverend  and  venerable  Solomon  Stoddard  of  our 
Northampton,  upon  reading  the  Difcourfes  on  the  Parable 
writes  thus  to  the  Author,  "  If  fuch  Books  will  not  work 
on  the  Conferences  of  Men  I  know  not  what  will,  the 
Hopes  of  your  living  to  do  Service  when  I  am  Dead  is  a 
Comfort  to  me.  1709."  Dr.  Watts  and  other  eminent 
Minifters  in  England  upon  receiving  and  reading  his  Trea- 
tiies  and  Sermons  in  their  Letters  often  obferve  with  Plea- 
lure  "  the  Variety  of  ufeful  and  beautiful  Thoughts,  juft 
Sentiments  and  fine  Addrefs  in  them. 

I  find  by  a  Letter  from  an  eminent  Perfon  <c  that  a 
Lady  of  Quality  of  the  greatefl  Wit  in  the  Nation  (but 
of  the  High  Church)  upon  reading  his  Sermon  on  the 
Death  of  Governor  Dudley  was  fo  pleafed  with  it  as  to 
fay  "  •  She  mould  be  for  ever  hereafter  in  Love  with  the 
Jhort  Cloak." 

But  it  would  be  endlefs  (as  it  is  needlefs)  to  record  the 
Encomiums  and  Panegy ricks  of  worthy  Perfon*  at  Home 
and  Abroad  on  this  Head  •>  I  mall  only  offer  the  Reader 
two  more  which  are  printed, fell. 

The  great  and  learned  Mr.  Pemberton  in  his  Preface  to 
the  Doctor's  Sermons  on  the  Incomprebevftblenefs  of  God, 
publifhed  in  the  Year  1715  fays,  "  in  thefe  Difcourfes  we 
have  the  fublime  Subject  of  God's  Incomprehenfiblenefs 
treated  with  a  becoming  Modefty  and  Reverence,  with 
an  agreable  Life,  Judgment  and  Perfpicuity.  The 
Character  of  the  Reverend  Author  and  his  Performance 
are  too  bright  to  receive  any  Luftre  from  my  Recom 
mendation. 

However,  I  muft  be  allowed  to  rejoice  in,  and  to  blefs 
the  great  Head  of  the  Church  for,  thofe  uncommon  Gifts 
his  Servant  is  endowed  with  ;  which  appear  obf^rvably 

•f  The  Doffor  had  then  only  printed  about  feven  Sermons  befidcs 
his  large  Volume  on  the  Parable  of  the  leu  Virgin* 

in 


$f  Dr.    BENJAMIN COLMAtf^  I  7*3 

in  thefe  Difcourfes. — And  fure  I  am  it  is  not  Partiality  to 
a  Friend,  but  Juftice  to  the  Merit  of  the  Performance, 
which  compels  me  to  believe,  that  every  impartial,  judi 
cious  Reader  will  efteem  thefe  Meditations,  every  Way 
fitted  to  entertain,  and  improve  the  Underftanding  of  the 
mod  Intelligent  •,  and  to  quicken  the  Devotion  of  the 
moft  devout  Chriftian." 

The  other  is  from  divers  eminent  Minifters  of  London, 
in  their  Preface  to  his  Twenty  Sacramental  Sermons. 

"  Thefe  Difcourfes  are  excellently  futed  to  the  Tafte 
"  of  ferious  Chriftians,  and  to  the  fpecial  Purpofes  they 
"  were  defigned  to  ferve.  The  Reader  will  find  fome 
"  of  the  moil  fpiritual  and  evangelical  Subjects,  treated 
"  with  a  Vein  of  good  Senfe,  and  true  Piety  ;  facred 
"  Truth  agreeably  reprefented,  animated  with  a  truly 
"  Chriftian  Spirit,  and  every  where,  made  fubfervientto 
"  practical  Godlinefs,  the  great  Defign  of  the  Gofpel- 
"  Revelation. 

"  The  worthy  Author  needs  not  any  Commendation 
"  from  others,  to  whom  a  long  Courfe  of  eminent  Ser- 
"  vices  to  Church  and  State,  in  his  own  Country,  and 
lc  the  higheft  Honours  and  Refpects  paid  him  there,  are 
"  the  trueft  Praife.  We  think  our  Reverend  Brother 
cc  has  been  fo  remarkably  circumftanced  as  to  be  in  dif- 
"  ferent  Parts  of  his  Life,  the  youngeft  and  eldeft  Paftor 
cc  in  the  Town  of  Bofton  ;  and  by  his  own  Labours  and 
"  his  Intereft  in  others,  has  perhaps  been  an  Inftrument 
"  in  the  Hand  of  God  of  as  great  Service  to  Religion  and 
"  Learning,  to  the  Church,  and  the  College,  as  any  Man 
"  of  his  Time.  His  Wifdom  and  Moderation,  his  Zeal 
"  and  Integrity,  in  his  whole  Conduct,  fo  amiable  and 
"  illuflrious  in  a  degenerate  Age,  muft  needs  render  him 
"  dear  to  all  the  flncere  Friends  of  both. 

—  "  We  recommend  this  Volume  of  his  Sermons,  as 
<c  well  as  his  excellent  Difconrfe  on  the  Parable  of  the  Vir- 
"  gins,  long  fmce  printed  at  London,  to  the  ferious  Peru- 
"  fal  of  the  Chriftian  Reader,  and  to  the  divine  Blefling. 

Signed,  Edm.  Calamy,  Jtr.  Hunt,  1.  Watts^  W.  Harris, 
Dan.  Neal,  Jobn  Evans*  To 


i74          M*  LIFE  ^CHARACTER 

To  proceed  on  this  Head  of  the  Doftor's  Pulpit-Perfor 
mances. — When  he  was  the  People's  Mouth  to  God  in 
Prayer,  his  Adorations,  Confefiions,  Supplications, 
Thankfgivings  andlntercefiions  were  profoundly  reverend, 

folemn>  copious  and  pathetick On  new  and  grand  Oc- 

cafions  when  he  hadTime,  and  took  Pains  to  meditate  and 
prepare  himfelf,  his  Ideas  and  Expreflions  were  fublime— 
He  foared  on  high  and  led  thofe  that  joined  (with  Hearts 
melted  and  filled  with  Devotion,)  even  to  the  Seat  and 
Throne  of  God,zs  far  as  Example,  and  the  Power  of  Words 

could  do  it. Sometimes  we  have  known  him  on  the 

mod  fudden  Calls,  occafioned  by  extraordinary  Provi 
dences,  fo  animated  and  elevated  with  the  Spirit  of  De 
votion,  as  to  exceed  himfelf  and  his  mod  (ludied  Addref- 
fes.  And  although  in  his  ordinary  Courfe  he  confined 
himfelf  to  a  form  of  Words  as  little  as  mod  of  his  Bre 
thren,  yet  he  ever  had  an  high  Value  for  Helps  \\  to  De 
votion,  which  he  ever  flrongly  recommended  to  younger 
Minifters,  as  well  as  private  Chriftians  ;  and  his  Spirit 
was  moved  with  a  juft  Difdain  and  Indignation  upon 
hearing  them  fo  much  preached  againd  and  vilified  by 
fome  warm  Itinerants  in  the  late  Times. 

As  he  looked  on  the  whole  Canon  of  Scripture,  and 
particularly  the  Pfalms  the  bed  Common  Prayer  Book  for 
the  Church  of  God,  fo  for  the  mod  part  he  kept  to  in- 

ipired  Language  in  his  Devotions. In  fhort,  he  prayed 

with  the  Spirit  and  with  the  Under/landing  alfo,  and  with 
the  greated  Fervour  and  Earnednefs  of  his  own  Spirit— 
what  Life  what  Ardour  did  he  difcover  ?  how  lavifh  of 
his  Strength  and  animal  Spirits  ?  more  efpecially  in  his 
Prayers  at  the  Adminidration  of  the  Sacraments  of  the 
New  Tedament,  he  did  fpend  and  was  fpent  even  to 
Faintnefs.  * 


II '  Particularly  Mr.  Matthew  Henrys  Method  for  Prayer  and  Dr. 
Ijaac  Watts' 's  Guide  to  Prayer.— 

*  To  ufe  fome  of  the  Words  of  his  dear  Colleague  in  the  fore- 
cited  Manufcript  Sermon,  "  How  often  have  we  heard  him  when 
**  it  feeemed  to  us  as  if  his  A&ive  Spirit  would  have  pierced  through 

"  his 


0/    Z>.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N," 

As  Tinging  of  Pfalms  is  a  Part  of  the  publick  Worfhip 
which  the  Doftor  highly  delighted  in,  and  was  greatly 
concerned  to  have  performed  to  Edification,  it  may  not 
feem  improper  to  give  our  Readers  the  Refultof  his  Thot's 
about  the  Introduction  of  fome  other  Verfion  of  the 
Pfalms  and  felect  Portions  of  Scripture  in  the  Room  of  that 
which  has  been  fo  long  in  Ufe  among  us  •,  and  which  he 
laid  before  his  People  fometime  in  the  Year  1738.  He 
apprehended  this  heavenly  Exercife  might  be  carried  on 
with  more  Underftanding  and  Spirit,  and  with  better  Me 
lody  of  Voice  and  Heart  by  making  an  Alteration  and 
Change  of  our  Verfion  (though  he  was  far  from  defpifing 
it  and  fpeaking  reproachfully  of  it  as  fome  have) —  pro 
vided  it  could  be  done  with  Peace,  and  a  general  Agree 
ment. 

He  wrote  thus, 

1.  My  Opinion  is,  That  in  the  Book  of  Pfalms^  and  in 
feveral  other  Parts  of  holy  Scripture^  there  is   full  Provi- 
fion  made  for  the  Collection  of  a  Body  of  Pfalwody,  for 
the  Ufe  of  the  Churches  through  all  Ages  in  the  publick 
and  private  Worfhip  of  God.  .  $&£) 

2.  That  more   eipecially  and   eminently   the  Book  of 
Pfalms,  though  not  fwgly  and   alone,  nor  yet   equally  in 
every  Part  of  it,  is  prepared  and  given  by  the  Holy  Ghott, 
as  this  Fund  of  Devotion  for  the  Ufe  of  the  Church. 

3.  That  therefore  a  Colleftion  ought  to  be  made  with 
the  bed  Care  and  Judgment,  of  fuch  Parts  of  the  Book 
of  Pfalms^  with  other  Portions  of   the  Old  and  New- 
Teftament,  for  the  Ufe  of  particular  Churches  and  Con 
gregations.   .  cj  i 

4.  That  in  the  Verfions  made  in  one  Language  and 
another  through  the  Chriftian  World  there  ought  not  to 

•'  his  trembling  Body,  which  was  fcarce  able  to  fuftain  the  Vehem- 
"  ence  with  which  he  fpake  and  the  warm  Engagement  of  his  de- 

"  vout   Soul.   We  were  fometimes  ready  to  think,   that   with 

"  the  Gofpel  of  Chrift,  he  would  have  imparted  to  us  his  own  Soul, 
*'  and  adually  have  expired  himfclf,  while  he  was  preaching  to  us  the 
t!  Word  of  Life:9 


1 76          ft*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

be  affe&ed  a  keeping  to  the  Letter  of  the  original  Lan 
guages  ;  but  the  true  Senfe,  Scope,  Spirit  and  Life  of  the 
Portions  chofen,  ought  to  be  given  in  the  proper  poetick 
Stile  and  Diftion  of  the  Language  and  Age  wherein  the 
Verfion  is  made  :  the  Gravity  and  Majtfty  of  the  facred 
Subjeff  and  Exercife  being  duly  attended  to  and  preferved. 

5.  That  the  beft  Collections  of  this  Nature,  that  our  Age 
and  Nation  have  feen,  or  I  think  are  like  to  fee,  may  be 
eafily  made   from  Dr.  Watts  his  Imitation  of  the  Pfalms 
cf  David,  in-the  Language  of  the  New -Teftament,  and 
from  his  Book  of  Hymns.     His  Poetry   is  grave  and  fo- 
Jemn,  full  of  Light  and  Heat,  and  the  Evangelical  Turn 
he  gives  in   many  Places  is  wonderfully  adapted,  in  my 
Opinion,  for  the  Service  of  Souls.     I  cannot  but   think 
it  to  be  the  Intention  of  the  Spirit  in  leaving  us  thefe  in- 
fpired  Pfalms,   that   we  mould  make  fome  fuch  Ufe  of 
them,  and  accordingly  it  is  the  Practice  of  the  Chriftian 
Church  univerfal  (  a  very  few  Inftances  excepted)  to  fe- 
lect  a   Portion  here  or  there  from  Time  to  Time. 

6.  That  therefore  it   be  recommended  to   the  Church 
and  Congregation  that  fuch  a  Collection  be  made   and 
laid  before  them  when  prepared   for  their  Approbation 
and  Acceptance,  and  thereupon  to  be  printed,  and   the 
Congregation  being  therewith  fupplied,  thenceforth   ufed 
in  the  publick  Worfhip  of  God  among  us. 

7.  That  particular  Care  be  taken  not  to   make   the 
Collection  tco  large,  or  the   Book  too  bulky  and  dear  for 
the  poorer  Families  or  Perfons,    and   that  out  of   the 
publick  Stock  a  competent  Number  of  Books  be  provided 
for  the  Supply  of  fuch  as  are   not  able  to  furnifh  them- 
felves. 

8.  That  with  refped  unto  fucb  Pfalms  as  Dr.  Wat  ft 
Jias  adapted  only  to  a  'Tune  which  our  Congregation  can 
not  fag,  either  we   refolve  upon  learning  and  bringing 
into  Ufe  among  us  faid  Tune,  or  that  a  new  Metre  of 
fuch  Pfalms^  or  part  of  them,  be  attempted  as  near  as 
we  can  turn  them  to  his  Stile  and  Manner. 

9.  That  where  he  has  omitted  whole  Pfalms,  like  Pn> 
<  Vifions 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N." 


177 


vifion  be  made,  for  I  judge  it  bed  for  us  to  have  the 
whole  Book  of  Pfalms  in  its  Order  as  we  now  have  it. — 
Inclofed  in  the  above  Propofal  (which  was  not  com 
plied  with)  the  Doftor  has  fet  down  on  a  Paper  a  Num 
ber  of  feledt  Hymns  from  Dr.  Watts^  which  if  added  to 
our  Pfalm  Book  might  poflibly  anfvver  his  pious  Defign 
and  be  much  for  Edification,  viz. 


Hymn  i  —  3  laft  Verfes 
2—  Ver.  1,4,5,7 
7—  5  firft  Verfes 
10  —  the  whole  of  it 

12  - 

-14  - 

16— 

17— 

1  8— 

19—  Ver.  1,2,3,4 

28— 

45—  Ver.  i,  2,  7,  8 


*• 

4, 

i 


56—1,  2,  3,  4 

57 

58—4,  5,  6 


62 

63— 

64- 

66— V.  6,  7,  8 

67- 
68— 


*?    ' 
v ; :  a-*0""" 


71— 

*T?         •  i 

73— 

74— 

75- 
76— 

77— 
78- 

IOI  - 

1  06  — 

113— 

116— 

121  — 

Book  3d  Lord-Supper. 
Hymn  i  —  3  and  7 
2—3,6 
6—  1,4 

H—  I,  2,  3,7 

14—  i,  2,  3,  5 
17—  1,2,  3,  8 


23—2,3,4 

24— 

25— 

26—  Common  Metre 

42—  Long  Metre 


It  is  recorded  in  the  42  Page  of  our  Narrative  that  the 
'Gentlemen  who  invited  Dr.  Coltnan's  Return  to  New- 
England  propofed  to  him  in  their  Letters  "  That  the 

Z  Holy 

-- 


17«          <Tbt  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Holy  Scriptures  might  be  read  every  f  Sabbath  in  the 
publick  Worfh'ip  of  God  among  them,  which  was  not 
praclifed  in  other  Churches  (in  the  Town)  at  that  Day. — - 
He  readily  concurred  with  their  Propofal,  and  praclifed 

accordingly  to  his  Death. For  he  ever  looked  upon 

this  Publick  Reading  as  but  a  due  Reverence  and  Honour 
done  to  them,  and  a  fuitable  Acknowledgment  made  to 
the  glorious  Author  Jebovab^  who  in  infinite  Mercy  has 
given  his  Word  to  us,  and  by  which  he  will  judge  the 

World  at  the  great  Day. His  Cuftom  was  to  begin 

the  Religious  Exercifes  of  God's  Houfe  with  a  fhort  Prayer 
for  a  Bleffing  on  that  Portion  of  the  Word  that  was  then 

to   be   read  to   the   Congregation And  herein  he 

humbly  apprehended  he  followed  the  Foot-fteps   of  the 

Flock. — He  found  both   the  Jewifh  and  Chriftian 

Churches  in  their  bed  and  pureft  Times  paying   fuch   a 

Regard  to  it, The  Reverend  AfTembly  of  Divines  at 

Weftminfler  advifing  to  it Our  New- England  Con- 

feflion  of  Faith  ("in  Chapter  226  Sett.  5.  which  treats  of 
religious  Worfhrp  and  the  Sabbath  Day)  according  with 
them — the  Words  are  fell  :  "  The  Reading  of  the 
Scripture,  Preaching  and  Hearing  the  Word  of  God, 
finging  of  Pfalms,  and  alfothe  Adminiftration  of  Baptifm, 
and  the  Lords-Supper  are  all  Parts  of  the  religious  Wor- 
fhip  of  God,  to  be  performed  in  Obedience  unto  God 
with  Underftanding,  Faith,  Reverence,  and  godly  Fear. 
But  what  weighed  infinitely  more  with  him  than  all  fuch 


•f  i.  e.  in  Courfe  and  without  Expofmon,  as  being  plain  and  clear 
(a  Lamp  and  Light).,  to  the  meaneft  in  all  Matters  of  Salvation  De- 
teftabilis  eft  in  Deum  contumelta,  quod  Papijlts  Jcripturam  obfcuram  ejjc 
ct  amiiguum  infimfdant  Qucrfum  enim  loquutus  ejl  Deus,  niji  liquida  in- 
•vi&'aque  in  ejus  Ver his  fe  prof erret  Veritas.  CALVIN.  Yet  People 
in  fojue  Places  ftill  objeft  againft  it  as  introducing  fomething  new 
in  the  Worihip  of  God.  I  knew  a  Minifter  who  propofed  this  Matter 
to  the  Confideration  of  his  Church  fom»  Years  ago,  and  had  fo  many 
Objeflions  brought  by  them  thereupon  that  he  was  obliged  to  fpend 
two  long  Sermons  in  Order  to  obviate  them,  and  after  all  could  not 
prevail. — 

Authorities 


of  JDr.~B  ENJAMIN  COL  MAN.  1 79 

Authorities  was  "  That  he    plainly   difcerned  fufFicient 
Grounds  for  the  Pra<5tice  in  the  facred  Oracles.* 

And  he  had  foon  the  PJeafure  of  hearing  the  Teftimo- 
nies  and  Thanks  of  many  for  the  Benefit  and  Advantage 
they  received  by  it. — And  of  fome  too  who  came  at  firft 
with  ftrange  Prejudices  againft  it.  He  lived  to  fee  this 
laudable  Cuftom  prevail  in  and  fpread  through  many 
Churches  of  the  Land  -,  and  fo  the  Reproaches  we  had 
long  lain  under  for  this  Omiffion  in  fome  Meafure  taken 
away.-f 

Yet  I  would  by  no  means  be  thought  to  reprefent 
the  Doflor  as  cenfuring  his  Brethren  that  did  not  fee  with 
his  Eyes,  but  were  for  having  fome  Expofition  accompa 
nying  the  Word  publickly  read  ;  for  he  has  been  often 
heard  to  fay  "  That  if  the  Scripture  were  but  read  in 
our  AfTemblies,  either  with  or  without  an  Expofition  the 
Inftitution  and  Ordinance  of  God  was  in  a  good  Meafure 
anfvvered — And  therefore  although  he  vaftly  preferred  the 
Method  above  mentioned  ;  yet  he  readily  complied  with 
the  Cuftoms  of  Neighbour- Churches,  when  he  occafion- 
ally  miniftred  unto  them. —  One  Inftance  of  his  Conde- 
fcenfion,  and  becoming  all  Things  to  all  Men  for  their 
fpiritual  Edification  may  be  here  told. —  Upon  the  Old 
Meeting- Houfe  (fo  called)  in  Boflon^  being  confumed  by 
Fire  in  the  Year  171-1,  about  one  half  of  the  Congrega 
tion  that  ufed  to  meet  in  it  attended  his  Miniftry  for 
many  Months  ;  in  which  Time  after  he  had  read  his 


*  He  doubtlefs  confidered  fuch  Scripture-  Paflages  as  the  following, 
and  I  with  the  Reader  would  turn  to  them,  fee  Deut.  xxxi.  1 1.  Deud 
xxx.  ii — 14.  Jofh.  viii.  35.  2  Chron.  xxxiv.  29,  Neh.  viii.  2,  3. 
Pfal.  cxix.  105.  Prov.  vi.  23.  Luke  iv.  16.  A6ls  xiii.  14.  2  Cor, 
iv.  3.  Col.  iv,  16.  i  Theff.  v.  7.  i  Tim.  iv.  13.  2  Tim.  iii.  15. 
2  Pet.  i.  19.  Rev.  i.  3. 

•f-  So  long  ago  as  in  1726  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  in  his  Ratio  Di/ci- 
fh'nte,  &c.  P.  67,  informs,  "  That  this  Practice  obtains  in  many 
Churches  among  us,  and  that  no  Offence  is  taken  at  it."—  Would  to 
God  it  might  univerfally  obtain  throughout  the  Chriflian  Church  ! 

Chapter 


i8o  ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Chapter  as  ufual,  he  made  fhort  expofitory  Notes  upon 
it  to  gratify  his  new  Hearers.f 

Another  Thing  which  the  Doclor  and  his  People  ap 
proved  of  was  the  Ufe  of  the  Lord's-Prayer,  i.  e.  all  the 
Words  of  it  together  as  it  (lands  in  the  New-Teftament, 
in  the  Clofe  of  his  firft  fhort  Prayer  before  reading  the 
Scriptures — a  Cuftom  which  many  took  Offence  at  in  the 
Beginning,  although  the  Lawfulnefs  of  it  was  denied  by 
none. 

As  the  Doftor  was  intirely  of  Mr.  Philip  Henry's  Mind 
about  it,  I  can't  reprefent  his  Sentiments,  better  than  in 
thofe  Words  in  the  noth  Page  of  the  Life  of  that  ex 
cellent  Man  of  God — Which  were  fometimes  quoted  by 
him,  viz.  "  He  looked  upon  the  Lord's-Prayer,  to  be 
"  not  only  a  Directory  or  Pattern  for  Prayer,  but  (accord- 
"  ing  to  the  Advice  of  the  dffemlly  of  Divines)  proper 
"  to  be  ufed  as  a  Form,  and  accordingly  he  often  ufed  it 
"  both  in  Publick  and  in  his  Family.  And  as  he  thought 
*'  it  was  an  Error  on  the  one  Hand,  to  lay  fo  much  Strefs 
"  upon  it  as  fome  do,  who  think  no  folemn  Prayer  ac- 
"  cepted,  nor  any  folemn  Ordinance  or  Adminiftration 
"  of  Worfhip  compleat  without  it,  and  fo  repeat  it  five 
"  or  fix  Times,  and  perhaps  oftner  at  one  Meeting  ;  fo 
"  he  thought  it  aq  Error  on  the  other  Hand  not  to  ufe 
"  it  at  all  •,  lince  it  is  a  Prayer,  a  compendious  and  com- 
"  prehenfive  Prayer,  and  may  be  of  Ufe  to  us,  at  lead 
"  as  other  Scripture  Prayers,  but  he  thought  it  a  much 
"  greater  Error,  to  be  angry  at  thofe  who  do  ufe  it,  to 
"  judge  and  cenfure  them,  and  for  no  other  Reafon  to 
"  conceive  Prejudices  againft  them  and  their  Miniftry. 

"  A  great  Strait  (faith  hej  poor  Minifters  are  in,  when 
"  fome  will  not  hear  them,  if  they  do  not  ufe  the  Lord's 
"  Prayer,and  others  will  not  hear  them  if  they  do  ;  what 
**  is.  to  be  done  in  thisCafe  ?  We  muft  walk  according  «> 
"  the  Light  we  have,  and  approve  our  felves  to  God,  ei\ 

f  He  was  then  reading  in  Courfc  the  Prophecy  of  the  Prophet 
Zetbari  ah  .•— — — • 

thcr 
f  > 


ef  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N.  1 8 i 

"  ther  in  ufing  or  not  ufmg  it,and  wait  for  theDay  when 
"  God  will  mend  theMatter  •,  which  I  hope  he  will  do  in 
46  his  own  due  Time." 

He  was  conftant  (in  his  Turn)  in  catechiftng  the  Chil 
dren  of  his  Congregation,  and  fpeaking  to  them  concern 
ing  their  Souls  from  their  early  Days,  putting  them  in 
Mind  of  their  Baptifm,  and  the  holy  Bonds  they  are  un 
der  thereby  to  be  the  Lord's,  and  in  this  Way  to  bring 
them  on  to  an  early  Recognition  of  thefe  Bonds,  if  it 
might  pleafe  God  toimprefs  their  tender  Hearts  betimes. 
— At  thefe  Exercifes  he  ufed  his  fingular  Gift  of  infinn- 
ating  and  inculcating  the  Truths  and  Duties  of  Chrifti- 
anity  by  putting  Queftions  and  laying  hold  on  the  Chil 
dren's  AniWers,  and  giving  fuch  Advices  and  Warnings 
as  he  thought  needful. 

As  foon  as  they  were  grown  up  to  Years  of  Difcretion, 
he  urged  upon  them  the  publick  Renewal  of  their  Bap- 
tifmal  Covenant —  When  any  of  them  entred  into  the 
Marriage-State,  he  failed  not  to  vifit  and  counfel  them 
on  this  Head  ;  and  it  has  been  thought  by  fome  that  he 
exceeded  in  his  Compulfions  to  fill  the  Houfe  and  Table 
of  the  Lord. 

It  mud  be  owned,  the  Doctor  was  for  a  freer  Admif- 
fion  to  the  Lord's-Supper  than  fome  of  his  Brethren,  but 
far,  very  far  from  approving  general  Admiffions^  or  even 
of  thinking  that  all  that  is  necefTary  thereunto,  is  a  Com* 
petency  of  Knowledge,  and  Orderlinefs  of  Converfation; 
I  find  fome  of  his  Thoughts  on  this  Head,  in  a  private 
Letter  to  a  Friend,  "  Ithink  more  is  necefiary  both  in 
Foro  Ecclefitf  et  Confeientite  \  before  Man  there  mould 
be  a  credible  ProfefTion  of  Repentance  and  Faith,  with 
ferious  Purpofes  a  nd  Promifes  by  the  Grace  of  God  of 
New- Obedience  :  To  all  which  the  Perfon  fhould  have 
the  Anfwer  of  a  good  Confcience,  his  Heart  not  con 
demning  him  —  So  in  the  Beginning  of  the  Gofpel  they 
came  confefling  their  Sins,  forrowing  for  them,  and  pro- 
mifing  to  forfake  them —  I  very  much  queftion  whether 
there  would  be  nigh  fo  much  Holinefs  in  our  Churches, 

were 


182  fbe  LIFE^JCHARACTER 

were  our  AdmiiTions  to  be  general  as  there  now  is.     The 
Table  of  the  Lord   fliould,  and  does  indeed  lie  open  to 
all,  the  People  are  earneftly  invited  to  it,  as   well  as  ex 
horted  to  prepare  for  it,  no  Inquifition  is  or  fhould    be 
fet  up  over  their  Confciences,  though  they  are  admonim- 
ed  to  look    to  their   Sincerity  before  God,  and  the  bed 
Signs  of  that  are  laid  before  them,  for  their  Affiftance  ; 
only  the  Scandalous  are  reftrained  from  coming  :  Others 
are  encouraged,  if  they  can  but  profefs  in  private  to  their 
Paftors  a  fcrious  Thoughtfulnefs  and  Concern  for  their 
Souls,  and  a  better  Life,  and  a  Refolution  by  the  Grace 
of  God  for  a  Life  of  Obedience  to  God  in  fecret  and  in 
publick. — As  to  publick  Relations  in  the  Churches  of  Ex 
periences,  it  is  an  human  Invention."     Yet  I  would  ob- 
ferve,  the  Doftor  was  a  great  Friend  to  Confefiions  of 
Faith,  and  the  Publication  of  them  too  on  fpecial  Occa- 
fions,  but  then  he  would  always  have  Men  at  Liberty  to 
draught  their  own,  and  not  be  obliged  to  fubfcribe  the 
"Words  of  others. 

The  Doftor  as  became  a  vigilant  Overfeer  made  fre 
quent  Vifits  to  the  feveral  Families  of  his  Charge,  not 
only  common  and  civil  to  cultivate  Friendfhip  and  Good 
Will,  but  proper  Paftoral  Ones  to  enquire  into  and  know 
their  State  and  Circumftances  in  Order  to  treat  them  a- 
greably,  wifely  and  faithfully,  and  that  he  might  the  bet 
ter  adapt  his  publick  Exercifes,  and  give  to  every  one 
their  Portion  in  due  Seafon. 

He  made  Confcience  of  vifiting  the  Pooras  well  as  the 
Rich  (efpecially  in  their  Afflictions)  inftru&ing,  advifing, 
admonifhing  and  comforting  as  he  fawOccafion  :  And  this 
he  did  Night  and  Day  as  long  as  his  Strength  lafted,  and 
oftentimes  to  the  no  fmall  Hazard  of  his  Health  and 
Life. 

And  when  he  gave  Vifits  to  any  of  his  Congregation 
or  received  Vifits  from  them  (or  other  his  Friends)  he  ge 
nerally  and  generoufly  beftowed  Books  of  Piety  on  them, 
cither  his  own  Sermons,  or  the  Publications  of  others. — 
When  he  was  called  to  minifter  to  the  Souls  of  the  Poor 

at 


&1 

of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.'  183 

at  their  own  Dwelling?,  he  ordinarily  enquired  of  their 
bodily  Wants,  which  were  foon  fupplyed  either  by  him- 
felf,  or  charitable  Friends  to  whom  he  inftantly  applyed 
on  their  Behalf. 

His  Prayers  over  Tick  and  dying  Ones,  were  not  only 
very  affectionate  and  fervent,  butalfo  mod  inftruclive  and 
edifying — By  a  Train  of  excellent  Thoughts  he  led  them 
into  the  Knowledge  of  Sin  and  Duty,  of  God  and  Chrift, 
and  from  Earth  to  Heaven.-f 

When  he  could  not  conveniently  vifu  his  People 
or  other  his  Friends  in  diftant  Places,  he  fent  his 
Thoughts  to  them  in  Writing,  futed  to  the  various  Pro 
vidences  he  heard  they  were  under — A  few  *  of  the  Co 
pies  which  are  found,  and  which  exhibit  the  bright  Image 
of  his  Mind,  the  Reader  fhall  be  entertained  withal  after 
I  have  jtift  added  a  Word  or  two  (for  a  Clofe  to  this 
Chapter)  on  his  gentlemanly  Carriage  and  Behaviour,  and 
other  Homiktical  Virtues  which  adorned  him,  and  were 
fo  confpicuous  to  all  he  converfed  with. — -He  was  a  good 
Mafter  of  Addrefs,  and  carried  all  the  Politenefs  of  a 
Court  about  him. —  And  as  he  treated  Mankind  of  va 
rious  Degrees  and  Ranks  with  a  Civility,  Courtefy,  Affa 
bility,  Complaifance  and  Candor  fcarce  to  be  equalled. 
So  all  but  the  Bafe  and  Mean  fhowed  him  an  high  De 
gree  of  Refpect  and  Reverence,  Love  and  Affection. — 
Particularly  Men  of  Figure  and  Parts  of  our  own  Nation 
and  Foreigners,  whom  he  failed  not  to  vifit  upon  their 
coming  among  us,  greatly  valued  and  admired  him. 

It  has  been  faid  (perhaps  not  without  fome  feeming 
Grounds  for  it)that  he  fometimes  went  too  far  in  comple- 
mental  Strains  both  in  Word  and  Writing — but  if  he  did, 
I  am  perfwaded  fuch  Flights  took  their  Rife  rather  from 

f  Some  of  the  Members  (I  might  fay  Minifters)  of  the  Church  of 
"England  have  declared  themfelves  more  raifed  and  edified  by  them 
than  by  all  the  devout  and  pious  Forms  of  their  own  Church. 

*  Alas,  that  fo  few  are  found  ;  for  he  feldom  kept  Copies  of  his 
familiar  Letters.  A  large  and  valuable  Collection  of  them  might  be 
obtained  if  fought  for,  equally  entertaining  with  thofe  that  follow. 

an 


LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

an  Exuberance  or  Excrefcence  (if  the  Phrafe  be  allowa 
ble)  of  the  before-mentioned  homiletical  Virtues,  and  a 
too  high  Complacency  in  the  appearing  Excellencies  of 
others,  than  from  faulty  Infmcerity  and  defigned  Flattery 
in  the  Time  of  it. — As  he  took  a  fmcere  Pleafure  in  the 
Gifts  of  others,  and  had  a  natural  Pronenefs  to  think  fa 
vourably  of  all  Men,  and  conftrued  every  Thing  in  the 
mod  candid  Senfe,  it  is  not  much  to  be  wondered  at  if 
he  fometimes  exceeded  in  his  ExprefTions. —  And  it  is  to 
be  lamented  that  fome  havefwollen  with  Pride,  and  made 
an  ill  Ufe  of  the  Doctor's  high  Efteem  and  good  Opi 
nion  of  them. 

Letters  of  Confolation. 

"  To  Madam  S of  N L ." 

Madam, 
With  what  Pain  I  take  my  Pen  in  Hand,  in  Obedience 

to  Mrs.  C Defire,  to  inform  you  fif  you  have  not 

already  heard)  of  the  bitter  Cup  which  God  has  given 
her  to  drink  in  Mr.  C Death  ;  you  will  eafily  be 
lieve  from  that  unfeigned  Pleafure  with  which  1  lately 
wrote  to  you  on  her  Recovery. 

So  it  pleafes  the  holy  and  wife  God  to  mix  his  Difpen- 
fations  to  us,  and  call  us  to  fing  of  Mercy  and  Judgment, 
It  has  put  the  Town  into  Mourning,  and  the  general  Sor 
row  (hows 'how  greatly  and  univerfally  Mr.  C-^-r—  -was 
cfteemed  in  it. 

But  your  Part  is  very  great  in  the  Bereavement,  to 
whom  he  was  a  wife  and  good  Son,  and  high  in  your 
Efteem  and  Love.  Dear  Mrs.  C is  one  of  the  great- 
eft  and  moft  gracious  Mourners  you  ever  faw.  It  remem 
bers  me  of  pad  Sorrows,  and  where  and  of  whom  flic 
learned  ;  under  the  great  Favour  of  Providence  to  her, 
and  the  Teachings  of  God's  Holy  Spirit. 

And  you  will  be  able  now,  I  truft  to  comfort  her,  with 
thofe  Comforts  with  which  you  have  your  felf  been  com 
forted  of  God.  And  may  thofe  Comforts  now  and  al  way 

abide 

- 


*/  Z>.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N,  I  8/J 

abide  with  you,  and  ever  abound  and  increafe  in  you  ; 
with  which  God  has  relieved  your  Soul  in  Times  of 
Trouble. — The  divine  Comforter  will  never  depart  from 
you,  I  am  perfwaded.,  but  lead  you  on  in  the  Path  of 
Life  to  the  Fulnefs  of  Joys  above. —  May  you  enjoy  his 
peculiar  Prefence  with  you  under  the  prefent  Providence. 

But  I  remember  where  you  are,  in  whofe  Arms,  and 
under  whofe  Minidry,  and  how  little  you  can  need  my 
poor  Sympathy. —  His  Honour  will  be  able  to  minifter 
more  than  all  the  World  befides,  to  your  Support  •,  and 
the  more  for  his  own  great  Part  in  your  Affliction. 

May  you  long  live  together  the  Heirs  of  the  Grace 
of  Life,  under  the  Favours  and  Changes  of  Providence. 
So  prays,  Madam, 

Your  mod  obedient,  and  humble  Servant, 
lo/lon,  Aug.  28.  1721.  B.  C ." 


"  To  Madam  G- on  the  Death  of  her  Hufband. 

Madam, 

Since  I  have  not  the  Opportunity  of  feeing  you  in  your 
great  Sorrows,  I  take  Leave  this  Way  to  exprefs  my  deep 
Sympathy  with  you  in  them. 

It  mud  needs  be  a  very  extraordinary  Didrefs  you  have 
been  under,  and  (till  are,  in  the  Death  of  an  Hufband, 
who  was  one  of  the  lovelieft  and  bed  of  Men  ;  and  the 
uncommon  Circum dances  you  have  been  under  in  his 
Sicknefs,  and  dill  are  in  fince  his  Deceafe  ;  denied  the 
Prefence  and  Affidance  of  your  Friends  and  Conveniences 
of  your  own  Houfe,  looks  very  defolate  to  us,  and  doubt- 
lefs  feels  fo  to  you. 

But  I  trud  you  have  the  gracious  Prefence  of  a  good 
God  with  you,  who  is  all-fufficient  and  abundantly  able 
to  fnpport  and  comfort  you.  If  you  feek  to  him,  and 
trud  in  him,  though  you  are  defolate  you  fhall  not  be 
forfaken.  I  am  not  alone,  faid  our  Saviour,  when  he 
bare  our  Sorrows  and  carried  our  Griefs,  for  the  Father  is 
with  me. — If  God  be  with  you,  and  you  keep  with  him, 
humbling  your  Soul  before  him,  and  crying  to  him  for 

A  a  Grace 


i86  The  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Grace  to  help  you  in  this  Time  of  Need  ;    you  will  not 
need  the  poor  Help  your  Friends  might  minifter  to  you, 

0  may  he  take  you  near  to  himfelf,  into  a  happy  Com 
munion  with  him,  in  this  dark  Hour,  and  give  you  Light 
in    the   comforting   Senfe   of  his   Peace  and  pardoning 
Mercy,  and  your  Intereft  in  his  Love  through  Chrift. 

The  Town  is  put  into  Mourning  with  you.  No  Man 
was  more  universally  efteemed  and  loved  than  Mr.  G 
was,  and  very  defervedly  •,  and  no  one  has  died  among 
us  more  lamented.  If  it  might  eafe  you  to  have  many 
fhare  with  you  in  your  Bereavement,  your  Burden  would 
be  lightned. 

The  Will  of  God  is  done  ;  and  we  are  taught  to  fay 
and  pray,  Father  in  Heaven,  thy  Will  be  done. —  God 
made  him  all  that  he  was  to  you  and  his  Friends  ;  and 
what  he  gave  he  has  taken  away  ;  and  we  muft  fall  down 
and  worfhip  him,  and  blefs  his  Name. 

It  is  rare  to  find  a  Man  fo  knowing  and  humble,  wife 
and  modeft,  meek  and  good,  grave  and  pleafant,  upright 
and  faithful,  pious  and  devout  :  'But  let  us  think  of  all 
thofe  Things  that  were  lovely  in  him,  every  Virtue  and 
every  Praife,  and  defire  to  live  fuch  ourfelves,  the  few 
Days  that  remain  unto  us  here  on  Earth,  and  to  follow 
him  to  a  better  Life. 

No  Wonder  he  died  in  Peace  and  Calm,  who  ever 
lived  in  it,  from  the  ruling  Principles,  not  of  Philofophy 
only,  but  of  pure  Religion.  His  filent,  even,  fteady 
Walk  with  God,  is  much  to  be  emulated  and  imitated. 

1  only  wifh  your   Soul  may  be  formed  more   and  more, 
by  what  you  have  feen  of  his,  and  fo  your  Manner  of 
Life  -,  and  that  the  like  Peace  of  God,  which  ruled  and 
kept  his  Heart,  may  keep  your's  through  Jefus  Chrift.— 
Let  your  Grief  too  be  now  moderated  and  governed  by 
the  Rules  of  Chriftianity,  as   you  may  think  he   would 
mourn,  were  he  in  your  Cafe  ;  and  may  his  Death  quic 
ken  you  fo  in  living  to  God,  and  getting  ready  for  your 
own  •,    that  you  may    have  an  happy  Meeting   again, 
and  an  endlefs  Life  of  Love  and   Joy,   in   the   Pre- 

fenc« 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.'  I  87 

fence    of    Chrift,   and    in     the    Glory    of    his   Holi- 
nefs.  I  am,  Madam, 

Your  affectionate  Friend  and  Servant, 

B.  C. 


" 


. 

"  To  Madam  H  -  upon  the  Death  of  C  -  W  - 
Madam, 

Permit  me,  under  fo  fingular  an  Exercife  of  the  divine 
Providence,  to  exprefs  my  deep  Sympathy  in  your  Af 
fliction,  and  to  endeavour  with  a  friendly  Freedom  and 
Tendernefs,  your  Comfort  and  Direction.  —  I  know  how 
much  Prudence  and  Conftancy,  Wifdom  and  Grace  you 
need  under  fo  uncommon  a  Trial.  —  Your  Soul  is  too 
great  and  juft  I  know,  to  count  it  any  Indecency  to  be 
feen  to  mourn  ;  you  owe  this  Honour  to  the  Dead,  this 
Juftice  to  your  felf.  -  Yet  I  know  too,  how  much 
more  retired  and  hidden,  your  Grief  will  be,  than  if  it 
had  been  delayed  by  Providence,  until  after  the  Confum- 
matiort  of  your  Efpoufals  —  Let  me  therefore  advife  you, 
of  the  Danger  of  Grief  when  too  much  fupprefied,  and 
of  the  Advantage  you  have  of  a  Mother  and  Sifter  with 
you,  to  whom  you  may  freely  give  Vent  to  yourThoughts, 
and  who  are  able  and  ready  to  mourn  with,  and  comfort 
yOUt  —  But  above  all;  let  your  Care  be  to  bear  and  improve 
aright  the  very  melancholly  Difpenfation  of  Providence. 
Do  not  fuffer  any  rifing  or  hard  Thought  of  the  bleflcd 
God,  nor  any  Diftruft  of  his  Care  and  Tendernefs  for  you. 

You  muft  not  only  adore  God  as  righteous  and  holy  ; 
but  alfo  believe  him  mod  wife  and  good  in  all  his  Deal  - 
ings  :  .And  if  you  fear  and  love  him,  chufe  him  and  his 
holy  Ways,  and  defire  to  commend  your  felf  to  his  Fa 
vour  and  Grace,  you  may  be  fure  that  he  is  gracious  and 
faithful,  tender  and  kind  to  you  in  all  that  he  allots  for 
you  —  O  that  you  could  now  leave  and  commit  your  felf 
to  his  Care,  believing  that  he  cares  for  you,  with  a  full 
Acquiefcence  and  Reft  of  Soul  in  his  holy  Will  ;  and 
while  you  refign  to  his  Sovereignty,  renew  your  Truft 
alfo  in  his  Mercy,  confecrate  your  felf  to  his  Service  and 

Glory, 


i$S  ?be  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

GIory,and  leave  it  to  hisWifdom  andFaithfulnefs  tochufe 
your  Inheritance  for  you — your  State  and  Condition  of 
Life.  O  feck  for  your  Soul,  an  Efpoufal  to  Chrift,  as  a 
chafte  Virgin  ;  fubmit  to  his  Propofals  of  Grace,  his 
Tender  of  himfelf  to  you  in  an  everlafting  Covenant  : 
Seek  the  Spirit  of  Grace  and  Supplication,  for  your  Com 
fort  and  Support,  the  Spirit  of  Prayer  and  Communion 
with  God  therein,  will  make  up  abundantly  for  any  world 
ly  Lofs  ;  God  knows  how  to  turn  thefe  into  our  beft 
Gains  ;  our  Afflictions  fandtified  are  in  the  End  among 
our  choiceft  Mercies. —  God  grant  you  therefore  this 
3VL-rcy,  to  be  Matter  of  everlafting  Praife  and  Thankf- 
giving  from  you  in -the  Conclufion. 

So  prays  your  afTured  Friend, 

and  humble  Servant, 

B.  C.» 

To  Urania 
On  the   Death  of  her  firft  and  only  Child. 

WHY  mourns  my  beauteous  Friend,  bereft  ? 
Her  Saviour  and  her  Heav'n  are  left : 
Her  lovely  Babe   is  there  at  Reft, 
In  Jefus*  Arms  embrac'd  and  bleft. 

Would  you,  Urania,  wifh  it  down 
From  yon  bright  Throne,  and  mining  Crown? 
To  your  cold  Arms,  and  empty  Breaft, 
Could  Heaven  indulge  you  the  Requeft  j 
Your  Bofom's  neither  warm   nor  fair, 
Compar'd  with  Abrabawfs  :    leave  it  there. 

He,  the  fam'd  Father  of  the  Juft, 
Beheld  himfelf  but  Earth  and  Duft, 
Before  the  Will  of  God  moft  High, 
And  bid  his  Darling  Ifaac  die. 

When  Heav'n  requir'd  in  Sacrifice 
The  dear  Defire  of  his  Eyes  ; 
And  more  to  prove  his  Love  commands 
The  Offering  from  the  Father's  Hands  j 

Sec 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  N. 

See  how  th' illuftrious  Parent  yields, 
And  feeks  Moriab's  mournful  Fields. 

He  bound  his  lovely  only  Child 
For  Death  •,    his  Soul  ferene  and  mild  : 
He  reach'd  his  Hand,  and  grafp'd  the  Knife, 
To  give  up  the  devoted  Life. 
Lefs  Heaven  demands  of  thee,  my  Friend  ; 
And  lefs  thy  Faith  (hall  recommend. 
All  it  requires,  is  to  refign, 
To  Heaven's  own  Aft,  and  make  it  thine 
By  Silence  under  Difcipline. 

The  leaft  we  to  our  Maker  owe  ! 
The  leaft,  Urania,  you  did  vow  ! 
The  leaft  that  was  your  Saviour's  Claim, 
When  o'er  your  Babe  his  glorious  Name 
Was  cali'd  in  awful  Baptifm  !    Then 
You  gave  it  back  to  Heaven  again. 

You  freely  own'd  that  happy  Hour, 
Heaven's  Right,  Propriety  and  Power, 
The  Loan  at  Pleafure  to  refume, 
And  call  the  pretty  Stranger  Home. 

A  Witnefs  likewife  at  its  Birth 
I  flood,  that  Hour  of  Joy  and  Mirth  : 
I  faw  your  thankful  Praifes  rife, 
And  flow  from  pleas'd,  uplifted  Eyes  : 
With  rais'd  Devotion,  one  Accord, 
We  gave  the  Infant  to  its  Lord. 

And  think,  Urania,  'ere  that  Day, 
While  the  fair  Fruit  in  fecret  lay, 
Unfeen,  yet  lov'd  within  the  Womb, 
(Which  alfo  might  have  been  its  Tomb) 
How  oft,  before  it  bleft  your  Sight, 
In  fecret  Prayers  with  great  Delight, 
You  did  recognize  Heaven's  Right. 

Now  ftand  to  thefe  bleft  Afts,  my  Friend  : 
Stand  firmly  by  them  to  the  End  : 
Now  you  are  try'd,  repeat  the  Aft  5 
Too  juft,  too  glorious  to  retraft. 

Think, 


i9o        The  L I F  E  and   CHARACTER 

Think,  dear  Urania,  how  for  thee, 
God  gave  his  only  Son  to  be, 
An  Offering  on  the  curfed  Tree. 

Think,  how  the  Son  of  God  on  Earth  ; 
(The  fpotlefs  Virgins  blefled  Birth) 
Our  lovely   Babes  took  up,  and  bleft  ; 
And  them  high  Heirs  of  Heaven  confeft  ! 

Think,  how  the  Blefs'd  of  Women  flood, 
While  impious  Hands,  to  th'  curfed  Wood 
Nail'd  down  her  only  Son  and  God  ! 

Learn  hence,  Urania,  to  be  dumb  ! 
Learn  thou  the  Praife  that  may  become 
Thy  lighter  Grief  ;    which  Heaven  does  pleafe 
To  take  fuch  wondrous  Ways  to  eafe. 

Adore  the  God,  who  from  thee  takes, 
No  more  than  what  he  gives  and  makes  : 
And  means  in  tendereft  Love,  the  Rod 
To  ferve  to  thy  eternal  Good. 

Another  to  Urania,  &c. 

ATTEND,  ye  mournful  Parents,  while 
I  fing,  a  Mother  in  Ifrael  ; 
The  fam'd,  the  gracious  Sbunamite, 
"Whofe  beauteous  Story  would  invite 
A  Saint  to  yield  her  only  one, 
Almoft  without  a  Tear  or  Groan. 

A  wondrous  Son  fhe  did  embrace, 
Heaven's  fignal  Work,  and  fpecial  Grace  ; 
Nor  long  embrac'd,  but  on  her  Knees 
Arrefted  by  a  fierce  Difeafe, 
Scarce  could  he  cry,  My  Head,  My  Head  !         ~\ 
E'er  the  dear  Parent  faw  him  dead  :  )> 

She  laid  him  breathlefs  on  the  Bed. 

Deep  was  her  Anguifh,  yet  her  Peace 
She  heldj  and  went  to  God  for  Eafe. 
No  Signs  of  Grief  diftort  her  Face, 
Nor  cloud  its  wonted  Beams  of  Grace. 

jfcd?];  No 


Of    Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N. 


% 


No  Moans,  no  Shrieks,  no  piercing  Cries  ; 
No  wringed  Hands,  or  flowing  Eyes 
Didreded  the  Houfe  in  that  Surprize. 

She  hades  her  to  the  Man  of  God, 
Hades  to  the  Place  of  his  Abode  : 
Mildly  denies  the  Caufe  to  tell 
To  her  dear  Spoufe  -,   all  would  be  well 
She  truds  :    So  did  her  Faith  excel. 
Eli/ha,  with  a  tender  Fear, 
Saw  his  illudrious  Friend  draw  near  : 
'Twas  not  one  of  the  Holy-Days 
Sacred  to  publick  Prayer  and  Praife  ; 
Why  then  the  Shitnamite  from  Home  ? 
On  what  great  Errand  was  flie  come  ? 
Her  Speed  befpoke  fome  weighty  Care, 
Which  generous  Friendfhip  long'd  to  fhare. 

It  druck  him,  fomething  had  befell 

The  Hufband,  Child, All  was  not  well— 

Go,  run  Gehazi,  faid  the  Seer, 

Enquire,  with  Earnednefs  fincere  ; 

"  Say,  generous  Hod,  if  all  be  well  ? — 

"  Alts  well  -,    my  Lord  !    me  faid,  and  fell 

At  her  great  Interceflbr's  Feet  : 

There  vents  her  Grief  in  Accents  fweet, 

Mild  in  her  Anguifh,  in  her  Plaints  difcreet. 

Such  dear  Urania,  you  to  me  ! 
O  might  I  be  but  fuch  to  thee  ! 

Mind,  gracious  Friend,  the  Word  fhe  faid, 
All  well,  and  yet  the  Child  was  dead. 

What  God  ordains  is  w//and  bed. 
Well  'tis  with  ours,  when  gone  to  Red. 
It's  well  with  us,  who  day  behind, 
If  more  from  Earth  and  Senfe  rehVd, 
W'  are  patient,  pray'rful,  meek,  refign'd. 

On  receiving  a  Letter  from  a  Perfon  of  DiftincYion, 
wherein  a  Mourning-Book  was  inclofed,  the  DoRor  writes 
on  the  Backfide  of  it  thefe  Words, 

Received 


The  LIFE^JCHARACTER 

Received  late  in  the  Evening,  put  my  Sermon  in  Or 
der  for  the^Sabbath  in  the  Morning  ;  and  before  Noon 
returned  the  Anfwer  following,  to  his  E  -  y. 

Sir,  Will  your  E  -  y  prolong  your  Grief  forever  ? 
And  at  the  End  of  Years  call  us  flill  to  mourn  on  with 
you  ?  And  can  you  think  any  one  but  your  J  -  n 
will  keep  Pace  and  Length  with  you  ?  —  How  much  do 
you  honour  fome  of  us  to  think  we  can  and  will  ?  How 
kind  and  righteous  the  Suppofal  of  this  facred  con  (lane 
Friendlhip  and  Duty  in  us.  -  - 


generous  Thought  awakes  my  youthful  Fire, 
Cold  as  I  am,  and  fliff,  I  take  my  Lyre  ; 
My  Fingers  tremble  on  the  founding  Strings, 
Tremors  my  Voice  returns  ;  and  gravely  fings. 

So  faithful  Abram  mourn'd  his  beauteous  Dead, 
Tender  and  princely  all  the  Tears  he  fhed  ; 
AfHifted  Princes  at  his  Levee  meet, 
The  Saint  and  Confort  in  his  Sorrows  greet,        ^ 
And  bow  together  at  his  reverend  Feet. 

Courtly  the  Mourning,  nor  have  Princes  known, 
B  —  h  —  r  a  generous  Grief  more  like  thy  own. 
Like  Faith  with  godly  Reverence  did  we  fee, 
Thou  Son  of  weeping  Abraham  rule  in  thee, 

And  like  thy  Son  did  princely  Jofeph  prove, 
The  Truth  and  Ardors  of  a  filial  Love, 
When  Ifrael  ceas'd  his  Bleffing,  welcom'd  Death, 
Stretch'd  his  cold  Feet,  and  joyful  gav:e  his  Breath  ; 
Down  on  the  doling  Lips,  the  Hero  fell, 
And  bid  his  Tears  and  burning  KifTes  tell, 
A  Love  and  Grief  too  big  for  Words  to  fpcak 
And  vent  a  burfting  Heart,  which  elfe  would  break. 
Happy  the  Patriarchs  in  their  princely  Son, 
The  Youth  by  Grace  eternal  Glories  won, 
A"  fovereign  Providence  fat  him  near  the  Throne. 

But  there's  a  heavenly  Throne  within  the  Sky, 
Jacob  and  Jofeph  triumph  there  on  high, 
Eternal  reign  !    The  Crown  of  Piety  ! 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN.  19.5 

B — h — r,  we  pray,  thou  and  thy  Sons  may  meet 
Where  the  moft  Pious,  finds  the  higheft  Seat,    , 
We  call  it  Gram's  Bofom  ;    at  his  Knees, 
All  Ifrael's  Seed,  the  Ihining  Patriarch  fees. 

Accept  Sir,  with  all  the  Candour  of  your  proved  Love, 
this  feeble  Effort  of  an  aged  Friend,  firm  from  my  Youth 
I  loved  you  ;  joyed  to  fee  your  rifing  Honours  !  may 
they  lading  be,  be  everlafting  !  Such  thy  growing  Joys 
to  everlafting  !  When  all  Tears  mall  ceafe,  and  Death 
mall  be  no  more.  Yours,  &c. 

"  To  His  E y  W S . 

Moft  honoured,  excellent  and  dear  Sir, 
The  Tears  of  the  Town  are  flowing  with  thofe  of 
your  E y  and  your  Houfe,  under  your  prefent  Be 
reavement  ;  and  fo  would  thofe  of  the  whole  Land  had 
they  the  Opportunity  of  knowing  fo  much  of  the  Beau 
ties  of  the  Deceafed,  and  of  your  Houfe  as  fome  of  us 
who  live  nearer  to  your  Door,  and  theirs,  have. —  In 
particular,  I  am  fo  near  a  Neighbour  to  your  lovely  Dead, 
now  lying  by  the  Wall  that  ftrikes  my  Eye  •,  and  have 
been  at  Times  fo  much  an  Admirer  of  the  Beauties  of 
her  Mind,  Form  and  Manner  •,  that  I  muft  be  very  in- 
fenfible  indeed,  and  my  profefTed,  dutiful  Affedtion  to 

your  E y  on  the  Account  of  your  tender,  faithful 

paternal  Care  of  us  all,  might  juftly  be  called  in  Quef- 
tion  ;  if  I  did  not  mare  your  Grief  -,  and  bear  you  upon 
my  Heart,  as  becomes  my  Character,  to  the  God  of  all 
Grace  and  Mercy,  that  his  fovereign  Hand  may  be  reli- 

giouQy  fubmitted  to  by  your  E — y  and  your  Houfe, 

and  fanctified  by  you  in  the  Sight  of  all  his  People. 

O  may  the   divine  Supports,  and  all  the  Confolations 
of  God  be  given  in  abundantly  to  Madam,  your  happy 

Confort  •,    happy  in  your  E y  as  you  in  her,  and 

happy  in  her  lovely  Offspring  ;  whom,   God  adorn  and 
fpare  long  to  us,  with   every  confpicuous  Virtue  and 

B  b  Praife 


194  W>*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Praife,  whereof  fhe  has  given  them  fo  teaching  an  Ex- 
ample  •,  and  not  to  them  only,  but  to  the  Town  :  That 
while  your  daily  Cares  of  the  Publick  threaten  to  wear 
you  out  before  your  Time  (I  fpeak  it  without  Flattery, 
for  the  Court  and  Town  cannot  but  fee  it)  their  Times 
may  be  for  ever,  in  a  mining  Succeffion  of  virtuous  and 
pious  Families. 

But  the  grand  Leffbn,  Sir,  that  we  have  to  learn  from 
fuch  Breaches  upon  our  Families,  is  to  live  mindful  of 
the  Day  of  our  own  Dying,  and  giving  up  our  Account, 
that  it  may  be  with  a  Joy  beyond  that  of  the  Day  of 
our  Birth,  a  blefled  Birth  Day  into  a  glorious  Immorta 
lity. —  And  O  that  the  Dignity  which  the  God  of  Hea 
ven  hath  allotted  you — may  be  but  an  happy  Prefage  to 
you,  and  a  Means  of  a  fuperior  Degree  of  Glory  and 
Blefiednefs  to  your  felf  and  yours,  in  the  coming  eternal 
World. — May  your  Lot  then  be  among  the  Righteous, 
who  fhall  mine  as  the  Brightnefs  of  the  Firmament,  and 
as  the  Stars  for  ever  and  ever. —  O  may  the  Sable  and 
the  Purple  concur  in  the  Production  of  this  glorious  E- 
vent  to  you. 

I  prefume  to  cover  to  you  another  Copy  on  the  Death 
of  Mr.  Holden^  which  you  once  read  with  Pleafure,  and 
let  your  Eye  and  Heart  fix,  Sir,  on  that  excellent  Line 
of  his  on  the  Death  of  his  Daughter,  "  I  have  now  one 
lefs  Attachment  to  Earth,  one  more  Argument  for  Heaven. 

If  your  Lady  alfo  will  caft  her  Eye  on  the  Silence  of 
Aaron^  and  the  wife  Word  of  David,  "  I  Jhall  go  to  my 
Child"  I  venture  to  cover  it  to  her  Daughter. —  So,  in- 
treating  your  kind  Interpretation  of  my  dutiful  Zeal  for 

y0ur  E y's  Comfort,  and   the  ftrengthning  your 

Hands  in  God,  I  remain, 

Sir,  your  mod  dutiful, 

and  obedient,  humble  Servant, 

B.  C." 

Feb.  1 8. 


1745- 


To 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  195 

"  To  Thomas  Burnet,  Efq;  in  London. 

Sir, 

It  having  pleafed  God  to  fpare  me  to  be  the  eldeft 
Minifter  in  Boflon,  I  think  it  but  a  decent  Thing  in  me, 
however  unknown  to  yon,  and  unworthy  of  the  Honour 
I  prefume  to  do  my  felf  ;  to  condole  with  you  on  the 
Death  of  your  dear  Brother,  our  late  excellent  Governor. 
Your  moil  reverend  Father  was  the  Man  whom  I  have 
honoured  and  reverenced  from  my  Youth  above  any  one 
of  our  own  Times,  whomfoever.  It  was  therefore  a  great 
Pleafure  to  me,  when  I  heard  his  Son  was  appointed  by 
the  King  to  be  our  Governor.  The  Fame  of  his  Learn 
ing  and  Moderation  raifed  our  Expectations  very  high. 
But  the  unhappy  Controverfy  about  the  Twenty -third 
Inftrudion  deprived  us  of  the  Happinefs  we  had  promif- 

ed  our  felves  in  him. 1  heartily  wifh  that  the  next 

Governor  may  not  infift  on  his  InftrucYions,  to  the  Length 
that  Governor  Burnet  did.  It  hurt  his  generous  Soul  to 
live  in  fuch  a  Wrangle  and  Oppofition,  and  his  great 
Heart  felt  what  it  would  not  own.  O  might  he  have 
condefcended  a  little  to  have  made  himfelf  and  us  eafy  in 
a  Point  or  two  !  What  might  he  not  have  had  from  us, 
and  we  found  in  him  !  He  thought  he  could  have  bowed 
or  broken  us  with  his  Refolution,  but  found  it  not  ta  be 
done.  The  fame  Men  that  once  ran  the  Rifque  of  our 
Charter  (to  me  invaluable)  were  ready  as  we  fee,  to  run 
it  again.  What  the  Court  will  do  with  us,  the  next  Sef- 
fion  of  the  Parliament,  1  know  not.  Might  I  hope  to 
prevail  with  the  late  Governour's  Friends,  I  would  fup- 
plicate  them  not  to  appear  againft  our  Charter.  I  have 
no  Right,  Sir,  to  afk  this  Favour  from  you,  neither  know 
I  your  Intereft  or  Refentments,  yet  I  cannot  forbear  lay 
ing  before  you  my  Prayers  and  Fears.  It  may  look  vain 
in  me,  it  may  be,  to  fay,  how  much  I  honoured  and  loved 
yonr  Brother,  and  wifhed  the  bed  of  BlefTings  on  his 
Children  ;  I  wifh  the  fame  to  all  the  Pofterity  of  the 
admirable  Man,  your  Father.  The  few  that  know  me, 

know 


i96        ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

-know  it.  The  inclofed  Account  of  your  Brother's 
Death,  done  at  the  Requeft  of  Mr.  Secretary,  will  teftify 
it.  You  will  fuffer  me  therefore  to  condole  with  you, 
and  fubfcribe  my  felf, 

Sir,  your  very  humble, 

and  obedient  Servant, 
Sept.  25.  1729.  B.  C." 

Boflon,  Sept.  8.  1729. 

The  Town  was  exceedingly  furprized  this  Morning, 
with  the  fad  News  of  the  Death  of  his  Excellency  our 
Governor,  WILLIAM  BURNETT,  Efq; 

He  had  beerv  very  ill  all  the  Week  paft,  but  on  Friday 
the  Symptoms  grew  threatning  ;  after  which  he  very  lit 
tle  recovered  any  Ufe  of  his  Understanding. 

He  expired  about  eleven  of  the  Clock,  the  Lord's- Day 
Night  •,  a  teaching  and  monitory  Inftance  to  us  of  the 
Vanity  of  human  Life  and  Greatnefs.  For  it  is  but  a 
few  Months  fince  he  was  received  here  with  all  poffible 
Demonftrations  of  publick  Joy  ;  in  the  Meridian  of 
Life,  and  in  his  full  Strength  ;  and  now  we  are  fuddenly 
called  to  attend  him  with  publick  and  folemn  Mourning 
to  his  Grave. 

He  was  the  eldeft  Son  of  the  late  right  reverend  and 
learned  GILBERT  BURNETT,  Lord  Bifhop  of  Sarum  ; 
among  the  Divines,  States  Men,  and  Patriots  of  the  laft 
Age,  a  moft  mining  Character.  In  Body,  he  was  very 
much  the  Imags  of  his  noble  Father,  and  in  Soul,  he 
was  Heir  of  his  Learning,  Juftice  and  Moderation. 

He  was  born  at  the  Hague  in  Holland,  in  March  pre- 
ceeding  the  Revolution  1688,  and  named  William,  after 
the  illultrious  PRINCE  OF  ORANGE,  who  condefcended 
to  ftand  his  God  Father. 

The  great  Part  which  his  Father  had  in  the  Accefilon 
of  that  PRINCE  to  the  Britijh  throne,  and  afterward  in 
the  Sncceffion  of  the  illuftrious  Houfe  of  Hanover,  was 
rewarded  to  this  worthy  Son  by  King  GEORGE  the  Firft, 
who  named  him  Governor  of  New  Tor k  and  Jerfies  ; 

and 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN?  197 

and  by  his  prefent  MAJESTY,  who  appointed  him  over 
the  Provinces  of  the  MaJJacbufetts-Bay  and  New  Hamp- 
jhire. 

It  was  pleafant  to  fee  a  Gentleman  in  the  Chair  over 
us,  who  was  allowed  by  all  to  be  chief  for  Knowledge 
and  Learning,  for  bright  and  quick  Parts,  for  Difcerning 
and  Judgment,  for  true  Eloquence,  both  in  fpeaki-ng  and 
writing,  with  the  greateft  Facility  ;  fora  noble  Genero- 
fity  and  Largenefs  of  Heart,  for  hating  Covetoufnefs  and 
difdaining  a  Bribe,  for  Temperance,  and  for  Humanity, 
Conrtefy  and  Affability. 

At  the  fame  Time  his  invincible  Conftancy  and  Re- 
folution,  in  what  he  judged  due  to  the  KING'S  Inftruc- 
tion  and  his  own  Honour,  furmounted  all  Regards  to 
his  own  private  [ntereft  and  Gain. 

He  has  left  three  Children,  two  Sons  and  a  Daughter  ; 
For  whom  we  can  wifti  nothing  better,  than  that  they  may 
all  inherit  the  Powers  of  their  Father,  the  Virtues  of  their 
Grandfather,  and  the  high  Favour  of  a  gracious  GOD 
and  King. 

His  Library,  which  was  his  chief  Delight  and  Pride, 
is  one  of  the  nobleft  and  richeft  Collections  that  America 
has  feen. 

We  are  very  happy  in  the  Prefence  of  the  Honourable 
WILLIAM  DUMMER,  Efq;  our  Lieut.- Governor  ;  to  re- 
fume  the  Chair  which  he  fo  lately  refigned  to  Governor 
BURNETT  •,  in  whofe  wife  and  juft  Adminiftration  we 
have  been  already  happy,  and  from  whom  we  are  fure  of 
all  the  Good  that  is  within  the  Compafs  of  his  Power." 

*JQ  J     j',  ^ 

A  Letter  to  a  pious  and  Ingenious  Gentlewoman  under 
Affliction. Madam  G of  C f 

"  Madam, 

I  was  vifiting   my  good  Neighbour,  Mrs.  A ~» 

in  her  Mourning,   when   your   friendly,  mod    chriftian 


f  This  Letter  was  printed   after  the    Death  of  the  Gentlewoman 

the  Year   1736. 

and 


198          STitf  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

and  confolatory  Letter  to  her  was  juft  come  to  Hand, 
and  fo  I  became  a  Sharer  in  the  Confutation  in  my 
Mourning,  which  is  not  yet  put  off,  and  in  the  Pieafure 
wliich  every  one  rnuft  have  that  reads  what  you  write. 
There  is  no  School,  I  fee  like  that  of  JffliRion  for  the 
brightning  as  well  as  fanclifying  our  Powers,  and  it  is  the 
Way  of  Heaven  to  fublimate  Souls  by  patting  them  of 
ten  through  the  Fire.  Leaving  therefore  the  happy 
Buildings  for  Science  and  Religion  on  the  Left  of  your 
humbler  Roof,  give  me  leave  to  come  to  you  for  true 
Learning  and  Inftruclion. 

You  have  been  taught  of  God  in  a  courfe  of  long 
fiery  Trial,  which  yet  has  been  but  his  fatherly  Chaftife- 
ment,  and  under  the  kind  Conftraint  of  his  Love  and 
Grace  have  willingly  learnt  of  him  how  to  endure  and 
improve  Afflidions.  And  why  has  God  taught  you, 
but  that  you  fhould  teach  others  ?  or  why  has  he  com 
forted  you  in  all  your  Tribulations,  but  that  you  may 
comfort  them  that  are  in  Trouble,  by  the  Comfort  where- 

with  you  are  comforted  of  God  ? You  certainly   do 

well  not  to  negledl  the  Gift  you  have  received  by  the 
1  land  of  God  laid  on  you ,  which  no  other  laying  on  of 
Hands  could  give.  Are  we  not  bound,  if  God  has  made 
us  fpiritually  rich,  to  diftribute  of  his  Treafures  to  the 
Sou  Is  of  our  dear  Friends,  and  his  Children  in  their  Ne- 
cefiities  ?  Freely  you  have  received,  and  you  freely 
give.  So  God  has  enriched  you  to  all  Bountifulnds, 
and  given  you  an  Heart  "ami  i  land,  in  a  lingular  arrd 

eminent  Way  to  difperic  abroad  -, and  your  Righ- 

teoufnefs  endureth  for  ever.  God  multiply  your  Seed 
fown,  and  encreafr  thefe  Fruits  of  your  Righteoufnefs, 
which  are  abundant  alfo  by  many  Thankfgivings  to 
God  •,  and  by  their  Prayers  for  you  who  love  and 
honour  you  for  the  exceeding  Grace  of  God  in  you. 

"  After  ye  were  illuminated,  fays  the  dpottle  to  the 
Hebrews*  ye  endured  a  great  Fight  of  Afflictions.  O  VVJKIC 
a  Mercy  is  it  to  have  firit  a  Principle  of  heavenly 
Grace  and  Wifdom  rooted  in  our  Hearts,  before  we 

arc 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN.'  199 

are  exercifed  with  fore  Afflictions,  and  of  long  Conti 
nuance  /  How  is  fuch  a  Soul  honoured  of  God  and  cal» 
led  forth  like  another  Job  or  Paul,  in  their  Weaknefs 
and  in  the  Infirmity  of  their  Flefh  to  difplay  the  Power 
of  the  Grace  of  God,  before  the  Eyes  of  admiring  An 
gels  and  Saints,  and  to  the  Confufion  of  the  Enemy  and 
Avenger  !  "  Haft  thou  confidered  my  Servant  Job 
that  there  is  none  like  him  in  all  the  Earth  ?  Go  fmite 

his  Body   as  thou  wilt,  and  fee  if  it  be  not   thus. 

And  why  was  the  thorn  ftuck  deep  into  St.  Paul's  Flefh, 
but  for  the  fame  Rcafon  ?  And  therefore  it  was  not 
removed  at  his  Prayer,  but  he  received  that  Anfwer 
from  the  Lord  "  My  Grace  is  fufHcient  for  you  for 
my  Strength  is  made  perfect  in  Weaknefs.  Well 
might  he  glory  in  his  Infirmities,  when  the  Power  of 
Chrift  thus  refted  on  him,  and  that  it  might  do  fo  more 
and  more  •,  For  when  we  are  Weak  then  are  we  Strong, 
and  even  Women  out  of  Weaknefs  are  made  ftronger 
than  Men,  when  God  pleafcs. 

*'  If  ye  endure  Chaining,  God  dealeth  with  you  as 
with  Sons.  See  Madam,  the  clear  Evidence  of  your 
Adoption  in  Chrift,  in  your  Conformity  to  Him,  the 
Captain  of  your  Salvation,  made  perfect  through  Suffer 
ings  •,  God  helps  you  to  endure  his  Chaftnings  with  a 
flial  Spirit  :  And  it  is  a  certain  Proof  of  a  Father's 
Heart  in  God  toward  you,  that  he  has  given  you  the 
Heart  of  a  Child  towards  him.  So  God  dealt  with  his 
cwn  Son,  and  fo  with  what  Child  he  pleafes,  and  moil 
delights  in.  He  helps  them  to  endure  with  Faith  and 
Love  which  is  in  Chrift  Jefus  -,  fuch  as  was  in  him  when 
he  prayed,  "  Father  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt  :  And 
fuch  as  he  required  of  us  when  we  pray,  "  Father,  thy 
Will  be  done. — Our  Duty  and  Felicity  are  put  together  in 
three  fhort  Words,  "  Rejoicing  in  Hope,  patient  in  Tri 
bulation,  continuing  inftant  in  Prayer.  This  Frame  and 
Exercife  of  Soul,  is  the  Earned  of  the  heavenly  Inheri 
tance.  As  Jefus  having  gone  through  his  Life  of  Sor 
rows,  and  thofe  of  his  Death  approaching,  life  up  his 

Eyes 


200  ?be  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Eyes  to  Heaven,  and  faid,  "  Father,  the  Hour  is  come, 
Glorify  tby  Son,  that  thy  Son  aifo  may  glorify  tbee. 

I  am  perfwaded,  Madam,  that  as  God  has  glorified  his 
Grace  in  you,  in  the  paft  Hours  of  your  great  Pains,  fo 
he  will  again,  and  more  and  more  help  you  to  glorify 
him,  unto  the  fntjhing  your  Courfe  with  Joy.  "  He  is 
able  to  make  all  Grace  to  abound  to  you,  and  to  give 
you  to&dlfitfficicncy  in  all  Things  ;  even  to  ftrengthen  you 
•with  Might,  by  his  Spirit,  in  your  inward  Man,  unto 
all  Patience  and  Long  faff er ing  with  Joyfulnefs.  O  what 
a  Promife  is  that  !  which  who  can  take  the  Height  or 
Length  of  !  but  he  is  faithful  who  has  faid  it,  and  able 
to  perform  it  in  you.  You  have  found  him  both  able 
and  ready,  when  you  have  been  preffed  out  of  Meafure, 
above  Strength.  You  do  well  to  communicate  to  your 
dear  afflicted  Friends,  your  own  blefled  Experiences,  for 
their  Direction  and  Confolation.  You  have  more  Un- 
derflanding  than  all  your  Teachers  ;  for  none  teacheth 
like  God,  and  there  is  no  Learning  like  that  by  Experi 
ment  :  And  may  your  Confolations  abound  with  your 
Sufferings,  while  you  are  afflicted  for  the  Confolation  and 
Salvation  of  others  ! 

My  dear  Spoufe  is  often  fpeaking  of  you,  and  always 
with  the  higheft  Efteem — Pray  for  us,  who  have  lately 
had  the  Sorrow  of  burying  a  dear  Child,  that  bore  fome 
•Image  and  faint  Ray  of  that  mining  Grace,  and  thofe  fu- 
perior  Gifts  which  irradiate  Tou,  and  fcatterall  your  Dark- 
neffes. — May  Grace,  Mercy  and  Peace  be  multiplied  to 
you,  and  to  him  who  is  your  other  own  Soul,  from  God 
the  Father,  and  from  our  Lord  Jefiis  Chrift. 
I  am,  Madam, 

Your  very  humble  Servant, 

Bofton,  Aug.  2.  1735.  B.  C." 

Another  Letter  to  Madam  G of  C . 

".  Madam, 

Your  charming  Letter  of  the  6th  Inftant,   full  of 

Grace 


Of  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  tf.  201 

Grace  and  Gratitude,  gave  me  fuch  Delight,  and  I  per- 

fwade  my  felf  will  give  the  pious  Mr.  H n  as  much, 

that  I  have  ventured  without  your  Leave   to  fend  him 

the  Original,  taking  a  Copy  for   my  felf. What 

Return  could  be  made  him  Jike  this  Firft-fruit  of  his 
Bounty  to  us  ?  and  give  me  Jeave  to  add,  from  what 
End  of  the  Earth  could  he  have  had  the  like  ?  or  where 
can  either  his  Piety  or  good  Senfe  more  have  found  its 

Match  ? He  is  paid  in  his  own  Coin,  Sterling.     You 

have  paid  for  me  as  well  as  for  your  felf,  and  if  your 
fuperior  holy  Lines  rival  me  in  his  Heart,  and  give  you 
the  higheft  Seat  in  his  Efteem  and  Love,  as  they  well 

may,  I  mall  heartily  rejoice  in  your  Conqueft. You 

merit  from  the  Lovers  of  Ch rift  and  Holinefs  (though 
from  him  to  yon  all  is  free  and  undeferved  Grace)  the 
flow  of  their  Affections  and  Benignity. 

I  am  forry  you  feem  fo  (truck  with  Wonder  at  the 
late,  too  late,  Teftimonies  of  a  great  Efteem  and  Regard, 
on  the  account  of  your  Worth  and  Wants.  It  is  be- 
caufe  I  am  fo  late  in  my  particular  Knowledge  of  them, 
though  a  general  Knowledge  I  might  have  before. 

You  know  it  was  your  Letter  to  my  good  Neighbour, 
on  the  Death  of  her  Brother,  that  gave  me  my  firft  and 
full  Intelligence, It  is  your  own  Humility,  and  for 
mer  low  thoughts  of  me,  that  muft  account  for  your  pre- 

fent  Surprize. This  Humility  let  us  cherifh  in  one 

another,  and   ceafe    our    Compliments,    however  well 

meant. Forgive  therefore  and  guard  againft  what   I 

have  already  written,  as  I  forgive  thofe  in  your  laft,  and 
if  we  can  anyway  minifter  to  one  another's  Confolation, 

let  it  fuffice. The  Blujh  which   naturally   belongs  to 

your  Sex,  muft  now  belong  to  me,  a  Scholar  and  Minifter, 
fifteen  Years  Older  than  you  are,  and  yet  not  able  to 
out- teach  or  out- write  you  !  But  I  have  not  been  kept  in 
School  like  you,  and  under  the  Rod,  and  Truant  like  have 

loft  many  a  Day. -You- -have  more  Understanding  than 

your  Teachers,  for  God's  Commandments  are  ever  with  you. 

Unlefs  bis  Law  had  bsen  your  Delight  you  had  perijhed  in 

C  c  your 


202          tte  LIFE^JCHARACTER 

your  Afflittion.  This  is  your  Comfort  under  them  that 
bis  Wordis  qiiickningto  you.  You  remember  it  Night 

and  Day,  therefore  you  have   Hope. And  may   you 

always  abound  more  and  more  in  ail  Joy  and  Peace  in 
Believing,  through  the  Power  of  the  Holy  Ghoft.— 
Out  of  Weaknefs  may  you  be  made  ftronger  and  ftronger 
through  the  Power  of  Faith,  as  the  Holy  Women  have 
been  who  belonged  to  the  noble  Army  of  Martyrs. 

It  is  indeed   more  Eleffed  to  give  than  to  receive,  but 

not  than  to  receive  as  you  do,  through  Grace. The 

Blefiednefs  lies  in  the  Manner  of  giving  and  receiving, 
not  in  the  Thing.  There  are  who  receive  in  a  more  holy 
fpiritual  Manner  than  the  Giver  gives,  and  then  the 

Blefiednefs  belongs  to  the  Receiver.     Mr.  H n  and 

you  are  one,  I  hope  in  the  true  Blefiednefs,  give  and  re 
ceive  with  the  fame  Spirit  of  Grace,  which  is  calculated 
and  given  for  a  like  amiable  Exercife  in  a  very  different 
outward  Condition.  I  fpeak  to  encourage  and  animate 
you  to  go  on  in  your  Part  of  the  holy  Exercife.  When 
he  receives  your's  to  me  he  will  be  animated  too,  to 
abound  more  and  more. 

I  have  given  to  Mr.  H n  the  Reafonsof  my  fend 
ing  you  over  Sea.     He  will  fee  one  Reafon  in  your  own 

Inclinations  to  have  wrote  to  him. .1  have  faved 

you  from  the  Blame  of  Forwardnefs  which  you  fay  re- 
ftrained  you,  and  I  hope  mall  have  difpleafed  neither 
of  you.  I  have  parted  with  the  Pleafure  of  what  I  va 
lued  under  your  own  Hand.  I  have  let  him  know  the 
Days  of  your  Youth,  your  honourable  Defcent,  and 
your  later  Afflictions.  I  have  told  him  that  I  mean  alfo 
to  honour  my  Country,  and  the  Daughters  of  my  Peo 
ple  to  him,  but  at  the  fame  Time  that  he  muft  not 
think  thefe  Nightingale  Notes  are  common  in  our  Woods. 
I  have  begged  his  Pardon  for  tranfcribing  to  you  a  Part 
of  his  gracious  Letter,  and  pleaded  it  to  be  for  your 
Confolation  and  Edification  ;  and  that  it  became  me  thus 
to  make  him  minifter  more  to  your  Soul  than  his  Cha 
nty  could  to  the  Needs  of  the  Body.*  »  '-I  have 

prayed 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  203 

TJ  f,   j 

prayed  him  to  forgive  your  Anti-Prayer,  in  wifhing  his 
Life  prolonged  'till  he  be  dim  with  dge  :  And  I  have 
dared  to  join  with  you  in  it,  with  a  little  Correction, 
from  the  ufeful  Old  Age  of  Mofes,  whofe  Eyes  were 
not  dim,  nor  was  he  kept  a  Day  too  long  out  of  Heaven. 

But  as  you  fay  of  your  felf,  I  tranfgrefs  the  Limits  of 
a  Letter.  I  muft  intreat  you  not  to  anfwer  me,  left  I 
write  as  long  again,  and  be  hindred  in  my  Sermons  and 
other  Letters.— — 

God  give  you  Refpite  from  Pain  if  he  fee  it  beft,  and 
ftrengthen  you  with  all  Might  unto  all  Patience  if  Pains 
return.  "  The  God  of  all  Grace,  who  has  called  you  to 
his  Eternal  Glory  by  Jefus  Chrift,  after  you  have  fuffered 
a  while,  make  you  perfect  ;  ftabliih,  ftrengthen,  fettle 
you  !  To  him  be  Glory  for  ever. 

We  all  again   falute  Mr.  G 

And    I  am,  Madam, 
Your  affectionate  Friend  and  Servant, 

"  To  Mr.  P F 

Sir, 

The  Refpefb  ihown  me  by  your  deceafed  Uncle  was 
altogether  unexpe&ed  and  furprizing  to  me,  when  your 
Meffengersone  and  another  came  to  me  to  put  me  into 
Mourning.  I  cannot  but  wifh  he  had  let  me  know  in  his 
Sicknefs,  that  any  Vifits  or  Miniftrations  of  mine  to 
him  would  have  been  acceptable.  My  Grati 
tude  waits  on  you,  Sir,  his  Heir,  and  on  the  Ladies  your 
Sifters  to  whom  he  has  left  fo  great  an  Earthly  Inheri 
tance,  1  wifh  from  my  Heart  I  might  have  named  too 

niy  good  Friend but  I  leave  that  to  your  own  kind 

and  generous  Heart. 

I  am  forry,  Sir,  I  am  fo  much  a  Stranger  to  you,  fince 
I  am  fo  much  obliged.  But  you  will  confider  the  Character 
I  fuftain,  which  has  obtained  the  Refpedt  fhown  me,  and 
allow  me  to  lead  you  off  this  Evening,  from  a  tranfitory 
dying  World,  the  Riches  and  Fafhion  whereof  is  paffing 

away 


204  W*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

away,  as  yon  fee  in  the  Funeral  and  Mourning  before 
you,  to  the  Reft  and  Work  of  the  holy  Sabbath^  which 
leads  us  every  Lord's-Day  to  the  Sepulchre  of  the  rifen 
Saviour,  to  the  Means  and  Defire  of  a  happy  Refurrec- 
tion  among  the  Jufl  at  his  fecond  Coming. 

I  pray  God,  Sir,  that  the  great  Eftate  you  are  come 
into,  may  be  fo  far  from  hindring  you  in  your  Way  to 
Heaven,  as  our  Lord  has  warned  us  to  fear,  that  on  the 
contrary,  it  may  greatly  help  you  on  in  your  Way  thi 
ther,  as  he  has  told  us  how  to  make  a  Friend  to  our 
Souls  of  our  earthly  Riches,  that  when  we  alfo  fail  (as 
we  certainly  muft  within  a  very  little  Time,  like  our 
Friend  before  us)  we  may  be  received  into  everlafting 
Habitations,  and  be  recompenfed  at  the  Refurredion  of 
the  Juft. 

I  am  fure,  Sir,  I  am  my  felf  this  Week  a  moft  teaching 
Inftance  of  the  Vanity  and  Vexation  of  Spirit  from  a 
fmall  Profpect  of  worldly  Inheritance  to  my  only  Child^ 
and  it  brings  Home  to  me  the  Wifdom  and  Goodnefs 
of  our  Saviour's  Words,  "  Lay  not  up  for  your  felves 
<Treafures  on  Earth,  where  Moth  and  Ruft  corrupt,  and 
where  Thieves  break  through  and  fteal.  I  may  be  fup- 
pofed  therefore  the  more  feelingly  and  affeftionately  to 
wifli  to  your  felf  and  the  Ladies  your  Sifters  a  moft  eafy, 
happy  and  religious  Improvement  of  the  Riches  which 
Providence  fees  Good  to  honour  you  with  -,  and  O  that 
it  may  be  in  great  Mercy  and  Favour  to  you  !  that  you 
may  not  truft  in  uncertain  Riches,  but  in  the  living  God 
who  giveth  all  Things  richly  to  enjoy  ;  that  you  may  be 
rich  in  good  Works,  ready  to  diftribute,  willing  to  com 
municate,  laying  up  in  Store  a  good  Foundation  againft 
the  Time  to  come,  that  you  may  lay  hold  on  eternal 
Life. 

Believe  me,  Sir,  if  God  pleafe  to  give  you  a  Heart  in 
the  Midft  of  worldly  Affluence,  to  live  above  the  Things 
below,  and  fet  your  Affections  on  Things  above,  where 
Chrift  is  at  the  Right  Hand  of  God,  you  will  tafte  a 
Thoufand-fold  more  the  Comforts  and  Pleafures  of  the 

prefent 

r 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN.  205 

prefent  Life,  in  your  Way  to  a  better  :  You  will  re 
ceive,  as  well  as  do  the  more  Good  in  Life,  find  Eafe 
in  the  Troubles  of  Life,  and  Peace  in  the  End  of  ir, 
which  can  never  elfe  be  found  though  a  Man  would 
give  all  his  Subftance  for  it. 

Accept,  Sir,  this  fmall  Return  of  Love  for  the  mourn 
ful  Bounties  of  the  Day,  and  give  me  leave  at  your  lei- 
fure  to  enlarge  on  thefe  Things,  when  I  fhall  have  the 
Pleafure  to  wait  on  you.  The  mean  while  as  you  are 
preparing  for  the  Vifit  to  the  Grave  before  us  -,  and  when 
you  fhall  lead  us  in  the  Mourning  thither,  let  our  Hearts 
be  fuitably  affected  with  the  Confideration  of  our  own 
Frailty  and  Mortality,  and  of  our  everlafting  Poverty 
and  Mifery  without  an  Interefl  in  Chrift,  and  the  Inhe 
ritance  of  the  Saints  in  Light. This  Bleffed  Portion 

I  heartily  wifh  you  and  my  own  Soul,  and  to  all  that  are 
related  to  us,  and  remain,  Sir, 

Your  obliged  Friend,  and   humble  Servant, 

Feb.  1 8.  1737,8.  B.  C ." 

- 

To  a  Friend  in  Adverfity. 
"  My  dear  Friend, 

If  I  were  not  my  felf  fhut  up  by  Age  and  Snow,  I 
could  not  excufe  my  not  having  feen  you  in  the  Sorrows 

of  the  lad  Week. Yet  have  you  not  wanted  much 

better  Vifiters  and  Comforters  from  among  your  numer 
ous  Friends,  who  like  Job's,  in  the  Day  of  his  Lofs  of 
Eftate  and  Bereavement,  came  together  to  mourn  with 
and  comfort  him They  came  every  one  with  an  Ear 
ring  of  Gold,  and  if  mine  may  be  welcome  to  you  now 
it  fhall  be  gladly  offered. 

If  a  Man  would  give  all  the  Subftance  of  his  Houfe 
For  Love  it  would  be  utterly  contemned.  The  Love  of 
Heaven  to  us,  and  its  tender  Care  over  us,  is  the  firft  In 
valuable,  and  beyond  all  Account ;  and  next  to  that  the- 
ruling  Love  of  God  in  us,  with  entire  Submifilon  to  his 
Sovereignty  and  Dependence  on  his  Grace  ;  and  then 
comes  in  the  poor  Love  of  good  Men  to  us,  their 

Efteem,, 


io6          JJ*LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Efteem,   Concern  and   Afilftances,  fuperadded   to   their 

more  precious   Prayers  to   God  for  us. The  two  firft 

I  wifh  you  with  all  my  Heart,  in  a  more  abundant  Ex 
perience  than  you  have  ever  had  through  your  whole 
Life;  and  then  I  congratulate  you  upon  what  you  door 
may  enjoy  of  the  other,  by  the  Favour  of  God  to  you. 

I  thank  God  for  the  Serenity  and  Calm  with  which 
(I  hear)  you  pofiefs  your  Soul,  and  Madam  with  you,  a 
Smile  of  Heaven  denied  to  Job  in  the  Day  of  his  Adver- 
fity  :  And  may  you  both  continue  to  blefs  and  trull  and 
refign  with  one  Heart  and  Voice,  and  mutually  flrengthen 

each  others  Hands  in  God. "  The  reigning  Love  of 

God  in  a  Soul  (fa^s  Mr.  Henry}  is  conftant  and  firm,  and. 
will  neither  be  drawn  off  from  him  by  fair  Means  or 
foul,  by  Life  or  Death — it  enables  us  to  repel  and  tri 
umph  over  Temptations  from  the  Smiles  of  the  World, 
and  alfo  from  its  Frowns  :  The  Gifts  of  Providence 
cannot  content  a  Believer  without  the  AfTurances  of  the 
Love  of  Chrift  in  them,  and  in  the  A  flu  ranee  of  that  the 
Lofs  of  thefe  common  Things  can  create  no  Difcontent." 

How,  well  therefore,  do  the  Ten  Words  from  Sinai 
clofe,  and  fhow  that  the  Finger  of  God,  wrote  the  two 
Tables,  who  knew  the  whole  of  Man's  Duty  and  Happi- 
nefs  "  Tbou  /halt  not  covet,  or  as  it  is  given  us  in  the  New 
tfeftament,  "  Be  content  with  fuch  Things  as  ye  have,  for 
be  hath  faid,  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  for  fake  thee. 

May  my  dear  Friends  be  under  the  Confolations  of 
that  unfpeakable  Promife,  enough  to  live  upon  in  the 
"Want  of  all  Things  -,  as  God  knew  it  to  be  enough  for 
Abraham,  and  that  his  Servant  would  account  fo,  when 
he  appeared  to  him  and  faid,  Fear  not  Abraham,  I  am 
thy  JJoi eld,  and  thy  exceeding  great  Reward:  And  again 
/  am  God  Almighty,  walk  before  me  and  be  thou  per f eft. 

Let  Patience  have  its  perfect  Work— is  one  of  the  Glo- 
ri?s  of  the  Chriftian  Law  :  the  Lord  himfelf  was  made 
perfect  in  bearing  fo  divinely  the  Things  which  he  de 
precated  :  In  Conformity  to  the  Son  of  God  we  muft 
needs  be  perfect  and  entire,  wanting  nothing  !  And  how 

rich 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  #.'  207 

rich  muft  he  be  that  wants  nothing  [  has  all  Things  in 
God,  by  one  Will  with  him  !  So  it  is  that  Angels  them- 
feives  have  all  Things  and  are  full ;  and  fo  was  St.  Paul 

too  on  Earth.     But  how  fhall  we  attain  it  ? the  Way 

is  plain  and  eafy,  by  going  to  Chrift  for  it  ;  of  whofe 
Fulnefs  we  all  may  receive  and  Grace  upon  Grace  !  as  it 
is  written,  "  Strengthened  with  all  Might  ^  according  to 
bis  glorious  Power,  unto  all  Patience ,  &c.  j: 

n?  I  am   Your's, 

iniv       B.  C." 


•    ?f:*V5w*<r  -:  03 

CHAP.    IX. 

.j  j 

- 

The  Doctor's  private  Life——  Marriages 
and  Children  —  Education  of  them  ---- 
His  Character  in  feveral  Relations  —  - 
Family-Religion  ----  Ejaculations  ---- 
Clofet-Devotions-—  Sabbath-San&ifica- 
tion-—  Trials,  &c. 

,.*iti.3  v 

1COME  now  to  write  more  particularly  of  the  Doc 
tor's  private  Life,  and  the  Circumftances  of  ir  —  his 
Behaviour  and  Carriages. 


§.  i.  Of  bis  Marriages. 

Soon  after  his  Return  to  New-England,  and  Settlement 
in  Botfon,  viz.  on  June  the  5th  1700,  he  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Jane  Clark  (Daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  and  Mrs.  Jane 
Clark}  with  whom  he  lived  for  more  than  thirty  Years.  — 
She  diedfuddenly  Oftober  26.  1731  —  On  the  Lord's  -Day 
after  her  Funeral  he  preached  from  thofe  Words  in  Lev. 

x.  3. 


208  We  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

10.  3.  And  Aaron  held  his  Peace.-\  She  was  a  pious,  di 
ligent,  prudent,  humble  and  prayerful  Gentlewoman,  a 
moft  tender  and  dutiful  Wife,  a  loving  and  careful  Mo 
ther,  and  a  mining  Example  of  Patience  and  Submiffion 
to  the  Will  of  God  under  a  Variety  of  fore  Trials,  ftrong 
Pains  and  long  Weakneffes. 

It  having  pleafed  God  to  bring  him  into  a  State  of 
Widowhood,  I  find  a  Paper  whereon  he  wrote  thefe 
Words  •,  "  It  foon  appeared  to  me  that  among 
the  many  virtuous  Tingle  Gentlewomen  of  the  Town, 
Madam  Sarah  Clark,  Relict  of  the  Hon.  John  Clark,  Efq; 
rnuft  be  the  Perfon  to  make  me  and  my  Children  moft 
happy,  if  I  married  again.  Her  Piety,  Gravity,  Humi 
lity,  Diligence,  Cheerfulnefs,  natural  Love,  (long  fmce) 
to  my  Children,  and  theirs  to  her  •,  *  be  fides  her  retired 
Way  of  living,  and  a  fmall  worldly  Eftate  free  from  all 
Incumbrance  ;  all  concurred,  after  Prayer  to  God  for  his 
Counfel,  and  the  Advice  of  my  nearer!  Relations,  to  in 
cline  and  move  me  to  make  my  AddrefTes  to  her. 

"  God  gave  me  a  kind  Welcome,  and  I  hope,  I  have 
much  to  acknowledge  of  a  gracious  Providence  prefid- 
ing  over  the  Beginning  of  this  important  Step.  And  I 
humbly  implore  the  Government  and  Guidance  of  Hea 
ven  in  all  that  is  to  come,  fubmitting  this  great  Affair 
to  his  Will,  Glory  and  BlefTing,  and  our  mutual  Comfort 
here,  and  Happinefs  for  ever.—  "  Now  that  I  begin  to 
look  upon  her  as  the  deftined  Companion  of  my  Life, 
and  Sharer  in  all  my  Joys  and  Sorrows  ;  a  Meet-help  to 
me  (I  hope)  the  few  laft  Days  of  my  Pilgrimage  •,  I 
would  fet  my  felf  daily  to  remember  her  in  my  Prayers 
and  Thankfgivings  to  God  •,  blefling  him  for  her,  for  a 
prudent  Wife  is  of  the  Lord  ;  and  begging  him  to  blefs 
her  to  me,  and  make  me  a  Blefling  to  her,  &c.  &c. 

f  The  lame  Sermon  he  afterwards  preached  at  Medfcrd,  upon  the 
Deceafe  of  his  Daughter  vr.v?vv7,  and  printed  it,  1735.  Wi?}l  another 
from  2  Sam.  xii.  23.  Ijbaltgn  to  birr.,  but  he  frail  not  return  to  me. 

*  Afi-r  che  Death  of  a  former  Hufband,  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  John 
L&'rett.  (he  boarded  foms  Time  in  the  Doftor's  Houfe. 

The 


tf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.'  209 

The  Doctor  was  married  to  her,  May  the  6th,  1732, 
and  (he  lived  with  him  till  April  24.  1744,  when  me 
died  after  a  long  Languifhment,  and  State  of  Infancy 
for  moft  of  the  Year  pad,  Mt.  72 — On  the  Lord's-Day 
after  her  Funeral,  he  preached  a  Sermon  from  thofe 
Words  in  i  ThefT.  iv.  14.  For  if  we  believe  that  Jefus 
died,  and  rofe  again ,  evenfo  them  alfo  which  Jleep  in  Jefus, 
will  God  bring  with  him. 

Augufl  the  1 2th  1745,  it  pleafed  God  in  his  moft  gra 
cious  Providence  to  lead  him  into  a  third  and  happy  Mar 
riage  with  Madam  Mary  Fro/I  of  New -Caftle,  New-Hamp- 
/hire,  Relict  of  the  Hon.  John  Froft,  Efq-,  who  was  a 
great  Comfort  and  Support  to  him  the  two  latl  Years  of 
his  Life.  She  furvives — a  Gentlewoman  of  many  amia 
ble  Qualities — But  I  may  not  offend  her  Modefty,  by  en 
larging  on  her  Character  here — 

§.  The  Doctor  had  Iffue  by  the  firft  of  thefe  Gentle 
women  only,viz.  a  Son  born  Sept.i.  1704,  who  was  bap 
tized  on  the  3d,  and  named  Benjamin  after  his  Father.— 
The  Child  died  on  the  i8th. —  He  had  two  Daughters 
who  lived  to  be  married  and  have  Children,  viz.  Jane 
named  after  her  Mother,  who  was  born  Feb.  25.  1708. 
She  was  married  to  the  Compiler  of  this  Narrative  Au- 
gufl  the  nth  1726,  and  died  March  26.  1735 —  She 
had  four  Children,  but  only  one  of  them  furvived  her, 
viz.  a  Son  Samuel,  who  died  in  about  a  Year  and  half 
after  her,  fcil.  Oftober  8.  1736.  Of  this  virtuous  and  in 
genious  Perfon  the  Publick  has  had  a  large  Account  in 
fome  Memoirs  that  were  printed  after  her  Death  in  New- 
England,  and  alfo  in  London,  (chiefly  collected  from  her 
Manufcripts)  by  her  Hufband,  which  were  well  accepted 
by  the  Pious  and  Learned  at  Home  and  Abroad. 

The  other  Daughter  named  Abigail,  was  born  Jan. 
14.  1714,15,  and  married  to 'Mr.  Albert  Dennie  of  B "oft on 
Merchant,  Sept.  1737. 

She  died  after  a  long  Languilhment,  May*  17.  1745. 
She  had  three  Children,  but  only  one  of  them  furviv 
ed  her,  viz,  —  a  Son  John,  and  this  is  the  only 

D  d  Lamp 


2io        T^e  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 


Lamp  the  Doftor  '  left  burning  in  his   Houfe,    at  his 
Deceafe. 

">'-,    ...*»' 

And  now  I  fhall  attempt  fome  Hints  of  the  Doftor's 
Character  in  the  feveral  Relations  of  a  Son,  an  Hujband, 
a  Father,  a  Friend,  a  Mafter,  &c.  in  all  which  he  exhibit 
ed  a  Pattern  worthy  Imitation. 


§.  His  filial  Piety,  AfFedlion  and  Duty  was  eminent  and 
known  to  all  his  Acquaintance.  As  he  obeyed  the  Law 
of  his  Mother,  whom  God  took  from  his  Head  (as  has 
been  before  noted)  about  three  Years  after  his  Admifiion 
into  the  College  ;  fo  he  ever  paid  all  Refpect  and  Re 
verence  to  his  honoured  Father,  whofe  Life  was  continued 
down  to  the  Year  1712.  After  the  Decline  of  his  Fa 
ther's  worldly  Eftate,  he  cheerfully  afforded  him  all  need 
ed  Afllftance,  and  did  every  Thing  that  lay  in  his  Power, 
to  render  his  Age  eafy  and  agreeable.  He  expreft  this 
his.  filial  Duty  not  only  in  kind  Words,  and  tranfient 
good  Deeds,  but  willingly  bound  himfelf,  with  his  kind 
Brother  in  written  Obligations  for  his  comfortable  Sup 
port  ;  praying  a  gracious  God  to  prolong  his  Life  in  the 
Increafe  of  his  Graces  and  Confolations  to  him.  Thus 
he.  was  the  very  Reverfe  of  thofe  Scribes  and  Pbarifees, 
whom  our  Lord  taxes  and  faults  for  faying,  //  is 
Cor  ban  .-f  T;  &  3^£fd 

In  the   Relation  of  an  Hujband,  he  was  moft  complai- 
fant,  tender  and  affectionate. 

Confider  him  as  a   Father,  he  was  wife  and  indulgent. 
•wH  __     __  __  _  ___    ____ 

f  Mark  7.  11.  —  Corbanis  a  Syriac  Word,  and  fignifies  a  Gift  gi 
ven  to  God.  Expofitors  obferve,  "  That  although  the  Pbarifees  did 
not  deny  it  in  plain  Terms  "  that  Children  ought  to  relieve  their  Pa- 
"  rents,  yet  they  made  a  vile  Exception  from  it,  which  if  Children 
"  pleafed,  might  render  it  void.  —  A  good  round  Gift  to  the  Temple 
anfwered  all  filial  Obligations  for  ever  —  Hence  covetous  and  gracelefs 
Children  oftimes  denied  their  aged  and  reduced  Parents  the  Aifift- 
ances  they  needed.  Vid.  Burkit  in  Loc. 

. 

i 


••if' Dr.  BENJAMIN  Co  LMA*;  211 

I  dare  not  lay,  he  did  not  exceed  fometimes  in  Point  of 
Fondnefs  and  Solicitude  for  his  Children.  Their  Wel 
fare  and  Happinefs  lay  on  his  Mind  continually  :  But 
then  his  firft  and  chief  Study  and  Care  was  to  form  them 
to  Virtue,  and  train  them  up  in  the  Love  and  Fear  of 
the  great  God  :  For  this  he  prayed,  wreftled,  and  ago 
nized,  and  ufed  all  futable  Means  that  a  glorious  Chrift 
might  take  an  early  Pofiefiion  of  them. 

From  meer  Infants,  he  endeavoured  to  train  them  tip 
in  the  Way  they  Jhould  go  :  (j.  And  for  this  End  he  was 
daily  relating  to  them  (as  they  could  bear  it)  in  the  mod 
familiar  and  artful  Manner,  the  entertaining  Hiftoriesand 
Stories  in  the  Old  and  New  'Teftaments,  together  with  the 
Doftrines  and  Precepts  of  our  holy  Religion,  and  he  foon 
faw  the  good  Effedt  of  fuch  his  Effays  in  the  laudable 
Proficiency  they  made  in  Knowledge  and  Wifdom. 

As  his  Daughters  grew  in  Years  and  Underftanding, 
he  would  fome  Times  write  and  fend  Letters  to  them 
from  his  Study  of  the  Things  of  God,  and  of  the  com 
mon  Bufinefles  of  Life,  of  Learning,  Wit,  &c.  in  Profs 
or  Ferfe,  to  thefe  he  expedled  Anfwers,  and  by  them  he 
foon  difcovered  their  Genius  and  Difpofition.* 

And 


||  Prov.  22.  6. — Expolitors  have  given  us  various  Tranflations  and 
Senfes  of  this  Text,  more  particularly  of  this  Phrafe,  In  the  Way  be 
Should  go.  If  it  be  literally  tranflated,  it  is,  Upon  the  Mouth  of  his 
Way.  In  the  Mouth,  i.  e.  in  the  Beginning  of  his  Way,  as  foon  as 
the  Child  is  capable  of  Inftruftion.  Some  underftand  it  of  the  Ge 
nius  and  Inclination  of  the  Childt  which  ought  to  be  confulted  by  thofe 
who  have  the  Care  of  its  Education.  Vatalulus  paraphrafeth the  Ex- 
preffion,  in  the  double  and  doultful  Part  of  his  Ways.  Mercer,  Accord 
ing  to  the  Meafure  of  his  Way,  afluring  us  that  the  fame  Word  in  the 
Original,  fignifies  both  a  Mouth  and  a  Meafure.  And  he  makes  this 
to  be  Solomon's  Meaning  ;  that  a  Child  muft  be  inflrucled  according  to 
the  Meafure  of  his  Capacity. — Vid.  Dr.  William  Hopkins**  Sermon  on 
the  Text.  Dr.  Co/man  paid  a  due  Regard  to  all  thefe  Tranflations 
and  Senfes  put  upon  the  Words. 

*  In  a  Pojlfcript  to  the  Memoirs  of  his  Daughter  Turetfs  Life,  he 
humbly  informs  thVWorld  of  his  Care  of-^r  Education.  He  firft 
talked  into  her  all  he  could,  in  the  moft  free  and  indearing  Manner, 

and 


212          ne  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

And  he  lived  (as  he  thought)  to  perceive  the  Grace  of 
God  in  them  both — in  his  eldeft  Daughter  early  and  evi 
dently — and  in  his  youngefl  many  Months^  if  not  Years, 
before  fhe  died.  And  "  although  (as  he  remarks  upon 
the  Succefs  and  Fruit  of  thefe  happy  Methods)  it  cannot 
be  pretended,  that  the  like  Endeavours  will  always  be  at 
tended  with  the  like  Succefs,  yet  it  may  be  fuppofed  they 
would  very  often,  if  Parents,  with  an  humble  Reliance 
on  the  BlefTing  of  God,  and  Prayers  for  it,  would  go 
into  them." 

I  find  among  other  Particulars  recorded  by  him,  con 
cerning  his  youngefl  Daughter  Abigail^  the  following,?;/*;. 
*c  She  gave  her  felf  to  Reading  from  her  Childhood,  and 
foon  to  Writing.  She  wanted  not  a  Tafte  for  what  was 
excellent  in  Books,  more  efpecially  of  a  Poetical  Turn 
or  Relifti,  which  foon  appeared  to  be  her  favourite  Turn. 
This  run  her  too  foon  and  too  far  into  the  reading  No 
vels,  &c.  for  which  God  in  his  righteous  Providence  af- 
.ter  wards  punifhed  her  by  fuffering  her  to  leave  her  Fa 
ther's  Houfe,  to  the  Grief  of  her  Friends  and  the  Sur- 
prife  of  the  Town. 

But  a  gracious  God  was  pleafed  fome  Years  after,  to 
fet  this  her  Mifconduft  in  fuch  a  glaring  Light,  as  threw 
her  at  the  Foot  of  fovereign  Grace  and  Mercy,  for  Hu 
miliation  and  deep  Repentance,  Renovation  and  Forgive- 

n/afe 

*  J  WiOv 

And  long  before  her  Death  fhe  was  apparently  alter 
ed  and  changed  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  increafed  in 

Grace,  manifefting  great  Humility  and   Refignednefs  to 

^__ _ . , 

and  then  fupplied  her  with  the  beft  Books  of  every  Kind,  futed  to  her 
Years  and  Inclinations,  without  making  them  a  Tafk.  and  Burthen. 
His  next  Care  was  to  teach  her  to  read  his  Hand,  and  then  by  writing 
to  her,  in  a  Manner  becoming  him,  and  proper  for  her,  he  infmuated 
himfelf  more  and  more  into  her  Affeclions,  and  increafed  her  Rever 
ence  of  him,  and  Defire  of  his  Efteem.  The  Way  to  merit  and  ob 
tain  that,  he  let  her  fee  was  by  a  prudent,  humble,  virtuous  and  reli 
gious  Ccwidudl,  upon  the  Principles  of  Chriftianity,  and  the  Fear  of 
God,  and  a  Defire  to  pleafe  her  heavenly  Father. 

the 


cf  Dr.  BEN  j  AMI  N  COLM  AN.  213 

the  Will  of  God.     Her  Death  had   all  the  Calm  and 
Peace  in  it  one  would  defire. 

I  was  prefent,  and  prayed  with  her  while  dying,  and 
well  remember  when  her  Father  fpake  to  her  (a  few  Mo 
ments  before  me  breathed  out  her  Soul)  of  the  holy  An 
gels  being  the  Convoy  of  happy  Spirits —  She  made  an 
Effort  to  utter  fome  Lines  of  one  of  Dr./F<z//j's  Hymns 
(moil,  if  not  all  of  them  were  long  before  treafured  in 
her  Memory) 

Take   me  Uriel  on   thy   Wings, 
And  flretch  and  foar  away, 

The  two  laft  Words  feemed  to  die  on  her  Lips,  and  after 
a  few  eafy  Gafps  me  expired. 

His  paternal  Care  defcended  to  his  Grand-Children. 
He  wrote  to  his  Daughter  Swell's  little  Son  of  fix  Years 
old. —  Upon  her  Deceafe,  he  has  thefe  Words  in  a  Let 
ter  to  me — 

April  14.  1735. 

"  God  Almighty,  the  God  of  Abraham,  Ifaac  and  Ja- 
*0£,  blefs  my  dear  Grand -Child — I  charge  you  my  dear 
Son,  to  govern  my  dear  Grand- Son,  with  a  ftricT;  and 
tender  Care  for  his  fpiritual  and  everlafling  Good. 

I  leave  him  this  my  dying  Charge  and  Bleffing, 
"  Lord  !  may  he  live  in  thy  fight  !  and  know  thee  the 
God  of  his  Fathers,  and  ferve  thee  with  a  perfect  Heart ! 
and  to  this  End  leek  thee  early  and  with  his  whole 
Defire." 

He  alfo  fealed  up  two  Copies  of  the  printed  Remains 
of  his  Daughter  in  which  are  found  the  following 
Charges  and  Counfels. 

"  My  dear  Child,  Soften,   June  8,    1735. 

Your  Grand-father  Colman,  who  loved  your  excellent 
Mother,  and  now  loves  you  the  only  Branch  from  her, 
like  his  own  Soul,  feals  up  thefe  two  Copies  of  the  Me 
moirs  of  her  Piety  and  Ingenuity,  for  your  ufe  when 
you  come  to  Years  of  Underftanding,  for  you  carefully 
to  keep  for  your  Children  if  you  live  to  have  any,  to 
preferve  the  Memory  of  your  Mother  to  you  and  them. 

You 


2i4         ?2*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Your  Grand-father  does  not  expect  to  live  to  fee  you 
grown  up,  and  therefore  now  leaves  with  you  this  his 
dying  Charge,  to  know  and  love  the  Lord  God  of  your 
Father  and  Mother,  and  to  fear  and  ferve  him  with  all 
your  Heart  and  Soul,  all  the  Days  of  your  Life  •,  and  like 
your  dear  Mother  to  give  your  felf  up  to  God  in  the  Days 
of  your  Youth. 

My  Prayer  for  you  is  that  a  double  Portion  of  that 
good  Spirit  which  adorned  and  fandlified  your  gracious 
Mother  and  has  reded  on  your — Father  and  his  Father, 
may  be  your  Inheritance. 

Often  read  over  thefe  her  living  Remains,  and  beg 
of  God  his  Holy  Spirit  to  make  you  aSon  worthy  of  fuch 
Parents  and  Anceftors. 

You  will  find  that  your  Mother's  Defire  was  to  dedi 
cate  you  to  the  Service  of  Chrift  in  the  Work  of  the 
Miniftry  •,  and  my  Hearts  defire  and  Prayer  to  God 
is  to  incline  you  to,  furnifh  you  for,  and  ufe  you  in  that 
bleffed  Service.  But  if  God  otherwife  incline  and  dif- 
pofe  yon,  yet  I  charge  you  to  devote  your  felf  to  be  his 
only  for  evermore,  to  ferve  him  in  your  Generation  ac 
cording  to  his  Will,  to  defire  to  be  a  Blefllng  in  your 
Place,  and  to  take  Care  of  your  own  Soul,  and  of  the 
Souls  of  your's. 

And  now,  my  Son,  the  Lord  be  with  thee  and  prof- 
per  thou  /  God  Almighty  blefs  thee  and  keep  thee  ! 
the  Blefllng  of  Abraham  be  to  thee  and  thy  Seed  !  and 
the  God  of  Abraham  \&  thy  Shield  and  exceeding  great 
Reward  •,  and  the  Fear  of  thy  Father  and  Mother,  be 
thy  God  and  Fear  forever  and  ever.  Amen. 

So  prays  your  mourning,  dying,  loving  Grandfather 
for  you  and  blefifes  you,  now  in  the  Day  when  your  Mo 
ther  is  taken  up  from  you  ;  of  whofe  Virtues  and  Graces, 
may  you  always  be  feen  a  true  and  worthy  Heir. 

n    /-> 99 

His  dear  Grand-fon  John  Dennie  (  fpes  fola  )  he  daily 
inftrufted,  charged  and  prayed  over  in  like  Manner,  and 
committed  to  the  Care  of  God's  kind  Providence  and  to 
the  keeping  of  his  fpecial  Grace.  —  To 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN?  215 

To  others,  his  Relations  by  Confanguinity  and  Affinity 
he  was  fingularly  affectionate  and  kind  ;  ready  to  lay 
himfelf  out  on  all  Occafions  for  promoting  their  fpiritual 
and  temporal  Interefts,  oftentimes  he  (Iraitned  himfelf  in 
ferving  fuch  of  them  as  were  reduced  to  a  State  of  In 
digence  ;  and  next  to  the  Confolations  of  God's  Spirit 
and  Grace  he  was  their  greateft  Pleafure,  Support  and 
Comfort  both  in  his  Youth  and  Age. 

He  was  alfo  zfincere  and  ufeful  Friend  to  aH  fuch  as  he 
profeffed  any  Friend/hip  to  ;  and  extended  his  Benevolence 
and  Beneficence  to  their  Friends. — The  numerous  Perfors 
recommended  to  him  by  his  Friends  here  and  from  abroad 
were  ever  kindly  and  generoufly  received,  entertained 
counfelled  and  advifed  &c.  —  In  Return  for  which  good 
Offices  there  are  many  Letters  of  Thanks  found.  —  And 
if  the  Number  of  Perfons  whom  he  ferved  by  Letters 
of  Recommendation  and  other- ways  was  to  be  told  it 
would  furprife  the  Reader.  —  Few  Perfons  of  Figure  of 
later  Years  have  travelled  to  Europe  without  feeking  and 
obtaining  Favours  from  him  —  And  thofe  who  have 
gone  from  us  in  Forma  Pauperis  were  with  an  equal  For- 
wardnefs  commended  to  his  Friends  and  Correfpondents. 
And  yet  it  muft  be  confeffed  that  he  was  fometimes  too 
fudden  in  contracting  Friendmip  with  Perfons  and  truf- 
ted  them  too  far  without  fufficient  Trial,  being  ftruck 
with  their  plaufible  Addreffes  in  Word  and  Writing 
who  after  they  hadanfwered  their  own  Ends,  foon  treated 
him  with  a  criminal  Indifference  &c.  Ah  !  'Vis  an  un 
grateful  World  we  live  in  /f  The 

-f-  The  Ancients  had  a  moft  excellent  Emblem  whereby  they  ufed 
to  exprefs  a  true  and  fincere  Friendfliip,  they  pictured  it  in  the  ;  Shape 
of  a  young  Man,  very  fair,  bare-headed,  meanly  attir'd  ;  on  the  out- 
fide  of  his  Garment  was  written  V 'IV 'ERE  ET  MORI,  and  in  his 
Forehead  JEST  ATE  ET  HTEME  :  his  Breaft  was  open  fo  that 
his  Heart  might  be  feen,  and  with  his  Finger  he  pointed  to  his  Heart 
where  was  written  PROPE  LONGE.  But  fuch  faithful  Friends  (faith 
Bi/hop  Morton)  are  in  this  Age  all  (or  for  the  moft  partj  gone  in 
Pilgrimage,  and  their  Return  is  uncertain. 

CAMER,  oper. 
WANLEY  Pag.  168— 


216          The  LIFE  ^CHARACTER 

The  Z>0#0rwas  a  gentle  and  compaffionate  Mafttr 
to  all  his  Servants,  whether  they  were  bought  Slaves  or 
hired  into  his  Employ— He  carefully  faw  to  it  that 
they  had  every  Thing  necefifary  for  their  Comfort  and 

even  for   Delight. Such  as  lived  with  him  any  con- 

fiderable  Time  are  WitnefTes  of  his  wife  Inftrudlions, 
Counfels,  Admonitions,  Reproofs  &c.  He  condefcended 
to  teach  his  Negroes  in  Perfon  (dull  and  ignorant  as  they 
came)  to  read  *,  and  catechifed  them  ;  and  was  ever  drop 
ping  fomegood  Sentence  to  inftruct  and  help  them. r 

And  with  a  moft  diftinguifhed  Humanity  miniftered 
to  the  meaneft  of  his  Houfhold  when  fick. 

§.  And  this  leads  me  to  write  of  other  his  Excellencies 
as  Head  of  a  Family* 

He  did  all  that  lay  in  his  Power  that  all  that  belonged 
to  his  Houfe  might  be  alfo  of  the  Houlhold  of  Faith. 
He  ordinarily  had  his  fett  Hours  for  Family  Devotion 

and  InftrucYion. For   the  laft   Twenty   Tears  of  his 

Life  (and  I  fuppofe  before)  it  was  his  Practice  to  read 
the  facred  Scriptures  Morning  and  Evening  with  large 
Paragraphs  of  Mr.  Henry's  or  Burketfs  Annotations  on 
•them  before  Prayer:  And  his  Prayers  (the  Matter  of 
them)  was  chiefly  taken  from  the  Portions  read.- 
Yet  he  never  forgot  the  fpecial  Condition  and  Circum- 
flances  of  his  own  Family  and  Flock  or  of  his  abfent 
Friends  and  Relations,  the  Town,  Country^  Nation  and  the 
Protettant  Inter  eft  abroad  in  the  World.  He  was  very 
particular  on  the  Face  of  divine  Providence  toward  all 

and  each  ofthefe. Andfometimes  he  would  difcourfe 

Jargely  to  us  on  the  Chapter  read  after  Prayer. He 

feemed  greatly  affected  in  the  Time  of  reading,  and  made 
his  Paufts  and  often  found  fomething  new  and  ftriking 
in  the  Oracles  of  God. 

I  ftiall  give  but  one  Inftance  of  many,  and  that  is 
mentioned  by  himfelf  in  his  Funeral  Sermon  on  the 
Honourable  Mrs.  Frances  Shirley  1746. 

*  See  his  Treatife  on  Family  Worfhip  printed  in  1728. 

«  I 


of  Z)r.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  217 

"  I  can   never  ( fays  he  )  forget,  how  as  I  was  once 
reading  the  6th  Chapter  of  the  Prophet  Zechariah's  Pro 
phecy  in   my   Family,   thofe  Words  in  the  8th  Verfe  -j- 
ftruck  me   with  a  marvellous  Light  and  Force,  "  Behold 
thefe  have  quieted  my  Spirit :  reprefenting   to  me  the  per 
fect  infinite  Complacency  which  the  Soul  of  God  has  in  all 
Events  of  his  Providence,  which  are  all  and  every  one  of 
them  altogether/#r£  as  they  fhould  be  •,  the  full  Accom- 
plifhment  of  the  everlafting  Purpofes  of  his  own  Wifdom, 
Holinefs  and  Grace  •,    wherein  therefore  the  Holy  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  muft  have  everlafting  Reft  and  Quiet,  Plea- 
fure  and  Satisfa&ion.     Can  there  be  a  more  calming, 
quieting  Confideration  than  this  to  the  Spirit  which  God 
has  made  and  fanctified  !  has  made  to  govern,  and  to  be 
in  Subjection  unto  his  own  holy,  perfect  and  bleffed  Will: 
"  Behold  thefe  have  quieted  my  Spirit  :   And  what  quiets 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  fhould  quiet  ours  •,  and  will  do  fo, 
if  we  defireto  be  holyy  wife  and  good  as  He  is." 

Such  Perfons  who  have  been  much  in  the  Doftor's  Com 
pany  have  often  feen  and  known  (if  any  external  Signs 
can  indicate  it)  "  That  he  was  abundant  in  Ejaculatory 
Prayer  :  How  would  his  Eyes  and  Hands  be  lifted  up 
to  Heaven,  on  hearing  of  the  Difpenfations  of  God's 
.Grace  and  Providence  ?  And  in  his  latter  Years,  his  de 
vout  Thoughts  and  inward  Breathings  were  frequently 
vented  in  pathetic  Exprefllons  of  Humiliation  and  Praife 
on  one  Occafion  and  another. 

There  are  not  indeed  fo  many  Particulars  recorded  of 
his  Clofet  and  fecret  Devotions  and  Communion  with  God, 
as  is  wiftied  for  ;  and  thofe  that  are  found  have  fuch  a 
Relation  to  Family-Circumftances  and  other  Grievances, 
as  the  Publick  is  but  little  concerned  in,  and  therefore 
muft  be  omitted  :  Neverthelefs,  on  juft  Grounds  we  may 
aflert,  "  That  he  fpent  much  Time  in  Self- Examination, 
Supplications,  Intercefllons,  and  Renewals  of  Covenant — 


-f-  The  Dcfior  foon  after  reading  this  Chapter  in  his  Family,  preach 
ed  Come  excellent  Sermons  on  the  Text  and  Context. 

E  e  Such 


218  rbe  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Such  important  Duties  he  preffed  with  all  Earneftnefs 
on  his  Children  and  others,  not  only  from  the  facred  Lejk 
(as  what  he  preached  and  printed  abundantly  proves)  but 
alfo  in  his  private  Letters  and  Vifits  and  Applications  to 
Souls. — 'Tis  probable,  he  defigned,  as  is  faid  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  John  Shower,  "  That  the  chief  TranfacYions  between 
God  and  his  own  Soul  mould  remain  a  Secret." 

However,  I  find  him  ordinarily  taking  a  religious  No 
tice  of  the  Return  of  his  Birth-Days,  and  compofing  and 
preaching  Sermons  futable  to  the  Occafion. 

I  (hall  offer  the  Reader  two  or  three  Records,  made  of 
Incidents  and  Occurrences,  by  which  you  may  judge  of 
his  good  Spirit  and  Frame  of  Mind,  under  Providences. 

Upon  his  Removal  from  his  Houfe  in  King-Street  to 
his  new-built  Houfe  in  Brattle-Street,  May  1715,  he  wrote 
this  Meditation,  "  It  was  a  very  pleating  and  inftruflive 
Sight  once  to  me  in  a  far  diftant  Land,  where  a  Perfon 
of  Honour  and  Riches  was  building  a  (lately  Houfe  for 
himfelf  and  his  Family,  but  at  once  he  took  off  the  Work 
men  to  build  himfelf  a  Vault  or  Tomb  to  be  buried  in. 
It  becomes  us  ever  to  keep  in  Mind,  and  lay  to  Heart, 
the  Remove  that  we  muft  foon  make  to  our  Grave.— 
A  convenient  Houfe,  an  eafy  Bed,  and  agreeable  Rela 
tives,  are  among  the  valuable  Comforts  of  this  Life. 
When  we  are  building  to  our  felves  pleafant  Houfes  to 
live  in,  we  mould  all  the  while  be  thinking  of  the  dark- 
fome  Houfe  or  Place,  where  our  Bodies  will  fhortly  be 
laid  :  And  when  we  enter  into  our  new  Habitations,  or 
after  we  are  fettled  in  them,  the  fame  Thought  mud  dill 
abide  with  us.  We  muft  not  entertain  a  Thought  of 
living  long  •,  and  muft  be  willing  and  ready  to  go,  and 
to  leave  our  new-built  Houfes  as  foon  as  God  calls  us  a- 
way.  They  are  only  to  be  ufed  as  Accommodations  for 
us  in  the  Way  unto  an  ever  la  ft  ing  Habitation  and  Houfe 
eternal. —  We  may  not  fet  too  much  by  an  Houfe  on 
Earth,  but  ought ~to  raife  our  Affedlions  to  Things  above, 
&c. — We  ought  to  ferve  God  in  our  Houfes — This  was 
Jojhua9$  holy  Refolution,  As  for  me  and  my  Houfe,  we 

will 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLM  AN.'  219 

will  ferve  the  Lord!  And  this  was  David*  s^  Pfal.  icu. 
/  will  walk  within  my  Houfe  with  a  perfeft  Heart,  &rc. 
Surely  we  ought,  under  the  outward  Smiles  of  Provi 
dence  upon  us,  to  be  renewing  the  Confecration  of  our 
felves  and  all  that  we  have  to  the  Service  of  God  •,  we 
ought  like  Abraham^  to  charge  our  Houfholds  and  our 
Children  after  us  to  keep  the  Way  of  theLord.  We  ought 
to  worjhip  God  in  fecret,  in  our  Clofets,  and  we  ought 
every  Day  to  pray  to,  and  praife  him  in  our  Families  : 
We  ought  to  read  his  holy  Word,  and  meditate  on  his 
Law,  and  teach  it  diligently  to  our  Children,  and  talk  of 
it  when  we  fet  in  our  Houfe,  when  we  Jay  down,  &c. 
Thus  we  muft  write  as  it  were  upon  the  Pods  of  our 
Houfe,  and  our  Gates,  Deut.  6.  7,  9. —  Our  Houfes 
fhould  be  Bethels^  little  Churches  for  the  Practice  of  Pi 
ety,  and  the  Exercifes  of  Devotion  therein,  that  theApo- 
ille's  Salutation  may  reach  us,  Rom.  16.  5.  Greet  tbe  Church 
in  their  Houfe.  With  thefe  and  fuch  like  Medita 
tions,  I  can  truly  fay,  1  have  been  building,  and  would 
now  enter  into  my  new  and  pleafant  Habitation  :  May 
they  abide  and  dwell  always  in  my  Soul,  that  thus  I  may 
there  dwell  the  few  remaining  Days  of  my  frail  Life." 

As  he  wrote  and  printed  Sermons,  Meditations  and  Let 
ters  on  the  great  Earthquake  in  the  Year  1727,  fo  I  find 
him  making  the  following  Record  of  that  which  hap 
pened  on  June  gd.  1744. 

"  In  the  Midft  of  Singing,  in  the  Morning  Exercife, 
being  the  Lord's-Day  of  our  holy  Communion,  a  great 
Shock  of  an  Earthquake  terrified  the  Congregation,  and 
broke  off  the  Worfhip  ;  all  rofe  up,  many  ran  out  of  the 
Houfe,  Women  and  Children  cried  out,  &c. —  But  it 
pleafed  God  to  enable  me  to  rife  up  and  take  the  Pulpit, 
and  with  great  Compofure  and  Sedatenefs,  and  an  unex- 
pedted  Flow  of  ready  Words  to  ftill  and  quiet  the  Af- 
fembly  ;  who  all  earneflly  liftned  to  me,  and  I  went  on 
and  finifhed  the  Exercifes,  and  adminiftred  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord's-Supper  with  the  greateft  Solemnity,  Pro 
priety,  Fulnefs  and  Brevity  I  had  ever  experienced.  — 
Laus  Deo.  On 


220  The  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

On  Dec.  31(1  1743.  He  writes  in  his  Almanack, 
"  I  thank  God,  I  have  been  enabled  to  go  through  a 
World  of  Work  fince  Mr.  Cooper's  Death  •,  and  now  am 
preparing  for  a  forrowful  New- Year's- Day  *,  and  if  it  be 
my  dying  Year,  I  commit  my  Soul,  and  the  Flock,  to 
the  great  Shepherd — the  everlafting  Father." 

Before  I  finifh  thefe  Seclions,  I  cannot  but  in  Juftice 
mention  the  high  Regard,  the  Doftor  paid  to  the  Cbrij- 
tian  Sabbath  * —  He  mentioned  it  oftner  in  his  Prayers 
and  Sermons,  and  prefled  the  due  SancYification  of  the 
LordVDay,  beyond  any  Divine  I  have  ever  known. -f 

He  ever  manifefted  his  Mindfulnefs  of  it,  and  Joy  at 
its  Approaches,  in  his  Morning-  Prayer  on  Saturday,  be 
gan  it  in  the  Evening,  |j  and  was  truly  in  the  Spirit  in 
his  own  Houfe,  as  well  as  God's. —  And  although  he 
preached  in  the  Forenoon  to  Wearinefs,  he  not  only  foon 
retired  to  his  beloved  Study  for  Devotion,  but  alfo  fome- 
times  read  and  inftructed  his  Family  in  the  Time  of  In- 
termifiion — And  in  the  Evening  did  often  repeat  his  Ser 
mon  ;  and  with  great  Fervour  and  Enlargement,  lead  in 
the  religious  Duties  of  the  Family,  as  he  has  directed  others 
in  his  Treatife  of  Family-  Worfnip. 

Mod  Company  gave  him  Uneafinefs  and  Difturbance 
on  the  Lord's  Day. —  He  ufed  to  invite  and  admit  Per- 
fons  (for  Conference  in  the  Evening)  when  he  firft  fettled 
in  Boftony  but  found  fuch  Inconveniences  attending  it,  that 
he  was  obliged  to  defire  his  Friends  to  vifit  him  at  other 
Times. 

§.He  pafled  through  many  foreTrials  andTemptations 
in  the  feveral  Stages  of  Life  (Tome  of  which  have  been 
already  recorded  in  this  Narrative,)  I  fhall  only  curforily 

*  Si*t  Oceu/i,  manufque  Veftr<e 

Toto  illo   die  ad  Deum  expa*f.<c. 

f  Vid.  His  Sermons  entitled,  the  Doftrine  and  Law  of  the  Chri- 
ftian  Sabbath—  His  large  Preface  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Homts's  Treatife 
on  the  Sabbath — His  Manufcript  Sermons  are  full  of  the  Sabbath. 

||  According  to  the  laudable  Practice  of  fome  of  the  moft  eminent 
Fathers  of  New- England 

mention 


$f  Dr.    B  E  N  J  A  M  I  N    C  O  L  M  A  N.  221 

mention  a  few  more  of  them.     He  fometimes  fuffercd  by 
the  Tongues  and  Pens  of  angry  and  unreafonable  Men  for 
his  zealous  Eflays  to  ferve  the  belt  Interefts  of  his  Coun 
try,  and  the  Churches  of  Chrift.f     Good    Men  alfo   of 
narrow  and  contracted  Spirits,  ill  treated  him  on  Account 
of  his  Catholicifm.      Under  fuch  petty  Perfecutions  he 
was  an  Example  of  Patience,  and    inftead  of  revenging 
Injuries  (when    it  was  in  his  Power)  he  laid  himfelf  out 
to  do  all    the   KindnefTes  he  could    to    his   Adverfaries. 
This  might  be  mown  in  numerous  Inftances.* 

There  have  been  Times  wherein  he  has  been  in  ftrait 
Circumftances,  and  met  with  moil  grievous  Difappoint- 
ments  in  worldly  Matters,  and  this  too  after  his  Expecta 
tion  had  been  long  riling  ;  and  fome  peculiar  Family- 
Afflidlions  lay  heavy  upon  him,  and  bruifed  the  Heel  of 
his  Life.  But  all  that  feems  further  needful  to  be  added 
under  this  Head,  is  a  Record  of  his  Behaviour  under 
God's  Vifitations  of  him  by  Sicknefs,  and  calling  for  the 
precious  Lives  of  fuch  as  were  dear  to  him. 

Since  my  Acquaintance  with  him,  he  was  divers 
Times  vifited  with  acute  and  threatning  Maladies,  and 
had  the  Sentence  of  Death  within  himfelf —  But  with 
what  Conftancy  and  Serenity,  Tranquility  and  Peace,  pro 
found  Refignations  to  the  divine  Will,  and  Humiliation 
under  the  Hand  of  God,  and  unftiaken  Hope  and  Trufl 
in  his  great  Saviour,  were  they  all  entertained  ?—  He 
fpake  to  his  Friends  that  vifited  him  in  the  Language 
and  Spirit  of  David,  "  I  have  feen  an  End  of  all  Perfec 
tion.^ — /  go  tbe  Way  of  all  the  Earth*  And  when  (by 
his  Defire)  we  have  been  praying  with  him,  and  com 
mitting  him  to  God,  a  Ray  of  the  excellent  Glory  has 

•f-  Many  Libels  (fraught  with  Scorn,  Contempt,  and  Reproach  of 
Lies)  were  thrown  into  his  Yard  and  Garden  from  Time  to  Time. 

*  I  mean  not  to  infinuate  here,  that  the  Doctor  was  not  fometimes 
fudden  and  high  in  hisRefentments  of  real  and  apprehended  Injuries— 
for  his  natural  Temper  was  quick  and  hafty,  and  he  had  the  Infirmi 
ties  as  well  as  Sanctity  of  an  Elijah. 

f  PfaL  119.  96.    *  i  Kings  2.  2. 

appeared 


fie  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

appeared  on  him,  and  his  inward  Satisfa&ion  and  Joy  has 
discovered  it  felf  by  a  loud  Amen. 

§.  His  Graces  were  alfo  tried  in  the  oftenSicknefles  and 
Deaths  of  his  loved  Wives,  Children,  Grand-Children, 
&c. —  of  which  the  Reader  has  had  fome  Notices  al 
ready.  His  Behaviour,  and  writing  on  thefe  Occafions 
follows. 

All  may  fee  and  read  his  truly  Chriftian  Deportment 
under  the  Death  of  his  Daughter  Tiurtll  in  the  Sermons, 
&c.  publimed  to  the  World. 

On  the  Sicknefs  and  Death  of  a  dear  Grandfon,  he 
writes, 

"  The  Lord  prepare  us  for  his  holy  Will,  and  the 
Child  for  his  everlafting  Mercies.  Help  us  by  Faith  to 
refign  and  commit  it,  Amen  \  and  yet  fpare  it  to  us,  if  it 
may  be  for  his  Glory. 

I  am  your  Father  and  Brother  in  Tribulation,  and  in 
the  Kingdom  and  Patience  of  Jefus  Chrift.  Your  Love 
and  Affection,  will  I  think,  be  my  higheft  and  only  Con- 
folation,  under  the  pad  breaking  Bereavements,  after  the 
Confolations  of  the  Grace  and  Spirit  of  Chrift,  which  are 
internal  and  fandtifying.  I  am  going  from  you  very 
ibon.  O  might  I  no  more  be  called  to  bury  Children, 
but  as  God  will,  if  it  may  be  for  his  Glory.  Pray  for 
me,  for  I  am  weak  !  Lord,  help  me,  for  I  am  broken  L 
So  commending  you  to  the  Love,  Grace  and  ConfoJation 
of  your  Father  in  Heaven,  I  remain  your  fecond  unwor 
thy  earthly  Father  &c." 

Immediately  after  the  Death  of  his  Daughter  Dennie, 
he  wrote  thefe  Words. 

'.,  ?  Father  thy  Will  be  done  !  Thy  Name  be  fan6fci fl 
ed.  Glorify  thy  Grace  in  me,  that  I  may  glorify  thee.— 
Who  am  I  Lord,  and  what  is  my  Father's  Houfe,  that 
thoii  haft  brought  me  hitherto.— My  Turett  died  in  Fear, 
who  never  offended  any  one,  and  if  me  knew  her  own 
Heart,  had  a  Thoufand  Tinies  given  herfelf  CO  God. 

My 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  C  o  L  M  A  ul  223 

My  Dennie  dies  in  Peace  and  Tranfports,  that  had  made 
the  greateft  Breaches  on  me,  and  had  given  Scandal  and 
Offence  to  all  in  Point  of  filial  Duty.f —  The  Grace  of 
God  is  free  and  fovereign.  He  ha:-  Mercy  becaufe  he 
will  have  Mercy. 

Scarce  any  Thing  touched  the  Doftor's  Soul  more 
nearly  than  the  fudden  Death  of  his  dear  Colleague^  the 
Rev.  Mr.  William  Cooper. 

When  he  was  lying  under  the  deadly  Symptoms  of  a 
Lethargy^  the  Doftor  made  and  wrote  his  Supplications 
to  Heaven  for  his  precious  Life,  in  the  Clofe  of  a  Sermon 
preached  *  on  Monday  Morning  to  a  reverend  and  for- 
rowful  AfTembly,  who  early  and  earneftly  came  together, 
to  humble  themfelves  and  cry  to  God  to  fpare  and  heal 
him. 

After  Mr.  Cooper's  Death  (which  was  the  next  Morn 
ing)  I  find  forrowful  Mention  made  of  it  in  divers  Papers 
of  AddrefTes  to  the  Church,  and  Supplications  to  Hea 
ven  ;  all  mowing  how  deeply  his  Spirit  was  affected  by 
this  fore  Stroke  of  Providence,  and  alfo  the  holy  and  wife 
Improvement  he  made  upon  it. 

The  good  and  juft  Character  of  this  excellent  and  va 
luable  Servant  of  God  may  be  feen  publifhed  in  a 
Sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Co/man,  the  Lord's  Day  af 
ter  his  Funeral,  from  thofe  Words,  John  xi.  35.  Jefus 
wept  ;  and  dedicated  to  the  honoured  Committee  of 
the  Congregation.  || 


-f-  The  Reafon  of  my  recording  thefe  and  other  Things  of  Mrs. 
Dennie  here,is,  her  Father's  known  Defire,  that  the  World  (hould  know 
fomething  of  her  and  them. 

*  From  Afts  9.  34.   Eneas  Jefus  Chrift  ma&etb  thee  whole. 

It  has  been  obferved  to  me,  by  fome  of  the  moft  intelligent  of 
his  Congregation  "  that  under,  and  after  the  heavy  and  repeated  Ca 
lamities  and  Sorrows  laid  upon  him  in  later  Times,  he  appeared  more 
animated,  enlivened  and  brightned  in  his  Publick  Exercifes. 

||  This  Character  I  purpofed  to  have  inferted  at  large  in  this  Nar 
rative,  according  to  my  Promiieof  a  more  particular  Account,  in  Pag. 
51;  but  left  this  Work  fhould  exceed  the  propofed  Limits,  it  mud  be 


omitted. 


CHAP. 


LIFE  ***  CHARACTER 


CHAP.     X. 

The  DoftorV  Mindfulnefs  of  Death  —  - 
The  Time  and  Manner  of  his  Withdraw 
and  Departure. 

DR.  Colman,  like  his  great  Matter  Chrift  Jefus,was  ever 
mindful  of  the  Hour  of  his  Death  ;  and  often  fpake 
of  it  in  his  Prayers,  Preaching,t  Converfation  and  Let 
ters  *  to  his  Friends. 

His  tender  Conftitution  and  often  Infirmities  from  his 
Youth  ||  up,  together  with  many  fudden  and  threatning 
Shocks  on  his  Health  by  acute  Difeafes,  were  earneft  and 
quickning  Memento's  to  him  of  his  Frailty  and  Mortality  ; 
and  thefe  he  wifely  improved  to  a  moll  ferious  and  dili 
gent  Preparation  for  his  great  Change  •,  and  alfo  as  pow 
erful  Incitements  to  Faithfulnefs  and  Induftry  in  his  mi- 
nifterial  Work. 

A  Saying  of  the  renowned  Baxter,  was  often  in  his 
Mouth,  and  fometimes  quoted  by  him  in  his  Sermons, 
fell.  "  I  often  reflect  with  Pleafureon  the  Goodnefs  of 
God  through  my  Life,  that  by  a  weak  and  dying  State 

1i>  -;          _   _  __  ___  ;  _  ,  _ 

f  Vid.  His  Sermon  from  John  9.  4.  on  the  Rev.  Meflirs.  Brattle 
and  Pembertons  Death,  printed  1717.  —  Alfo  his  Sermon  before  the 
General  Court  1736,  from  Zecb.  7.  8,  9.  Wherein  he  has  thefe 
Words,  "  I  fuppofe  this  may  be  the  lad  Exercife  on  a  publick  Occa- 
'fion  I  may  dare  to  "undertake.  I  have  ftirred  up  the  Gift  that  is  in 
me  as  a  Candle  in  the  Socket  will  now  and  then  flafh  up.  Regard 
what  I  have  faid  as  fome  of  the  laft  Words  of  a  true  and  faithful 
Friend  to  the  civil  and  religious  Intereft  of  this  People.  In  a  Ser 
mon  from  Pjalm  138.  z.  printed  1732,  he  gives  his  dying  Charges  to 
Minifters  and  People. 

*  It  would  be  endlefs  to  quote  PaiTages  from  his  Sermons  or 
Letters. 

||  In  which  Refpefl  it  might  be  faid,  Anima  Galba?  male  habitat. 
A  Phrafe  the  Doacr  often  ufed. 

of 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  225 

of  Body,  I  have  been  kept  ftudying,  praying  and  preach 
ing  like  a  dying  Man  for  Thirty  Years  together.1'  A 
conftant  inwrought  Senfe  of  our  (landing  on  the  Borders 
of  Eternity,  is  one  of  the  moft  effectual  Motives  to  our 
Zeal  and  Diligence  in  the  facred  Work,  and  it  is  alfo  of 
eminent  Ufe  to  direct  us  what  Studies  and  what  Labours 
to  purfue,  and  which  to  neglect. 

About   the  Time  of  his  preaching   Funeral  Sermons 
on  the  Deaths  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cotton  Mather^   and  the 
venerable  Mr.  Solomon  Stoddard  f  of  Northampton^  at  the 
publick  Lecture   in  Bofton,  he  found  himfelf  fo  languid 
and  fpent  that  he  expected  daily  to  depart —  When  he 
was  helped  home  from  one  of  thofe  Exercifes,  he  fainted 
in  his   Study,  and  fpoke   to  us  of  foon  following  thofe 
Worthies  of  our  Ifrael,  to   the  eternal  World —  And  a- 
greeably  to  fuch  Apprehenfions  and  Impreflions,  he  took 
Care  to  fet  and.  keep  his  Heart  and  Houfe  in  Order,  and 
died  daily  *—  But  a  gracious  God  had  more  Work  for 
him  to  do,  fome  great  and  fpecial  Services  for  his  Name 
and  Churches,  and  Poor  among  us,  which  have  been  at 
large  related  in  the  preceeding  Chapters.     After  this  his 
Health  grew  firmer  for  a  confiderable  Number  of  Years, 
and  he  was  brought  to  his  End  by  a  meer  gradual  De 
cay.     As  it  has  been  obferved  of  the  great  Mr.  Locke, 
*6  That  by  a  conftant  Temperance^  he  prefer ved   a  very 
weak  Conftitution  to  an  Age  very  few  attain  unto"     So 
under  Providence, the  Age  of  Dr.  Colman  may  be  afcribed 
to  a  nice  Care  about,  and  a  difcreet  Ufe  of  thofe  Things 
which  Phyficians  call  Non-Naturals.  \\ 

He  had  that  great  Favour  of  God  granted  to  him, 
which  fome  eminent  Lights  of  the  Church  have  earneft- 

•f  The  Sermons  are  both  printed  in  the  Years  1728,  and  1729. 

*  He  ever  kept  a  Will  by  him  that  he  might  not  have  the  Trou 
ble  and  Anxiety  of  tranfa&ing  worldly  Matters  on  a  dying  Bed. 

||  "  Things  that  enter  not  into  the  Nature  of  Difeafes,  though 
•they,  are  Caufes  of  them,  viz.  Air,  Meat,  Drink,  Sleep  and  Watch 
ing,  Motion  and  Reft,  Retention  and  Excretion,  and  the  Paffions  of 
the  Mind.—- —  Bailey. 

Ff  Iy 


226          fte  LIFEa/^CHARACTER 

Jy  defired,  fciL  "  Not  to  outlive  his  Work  and  Ufefui- 
nefs."  God  highly  honoured  him,  by  enabling  him  to 
preach  conftantly  on  Lord's-Days  to  his  Seventy- fourth 
Year  with  very  little  Abatement  of  his  former  Vigour 
and  Agreeablenefs — Thus  his  Day  and  his  Work  ended 
together.* —  A  long  and  bright  Courfe  !  and  that  Pro- 
mife  was  eminently  made  good  to  him,  "  ttofe  that  art 
planted  in  the  Houfe  of  the  Lor  d^Jhall  flour  ifh  in  tbe  Courts 
of  our  God  : — They  Jhallftill  bring  forth  Fruit  in  old  Age* 
they  Jhall  be  fat  and  flour ijbing  \  to  Jhew  that  tbe  Lord  u 
ufrlght.-\ — "  He  was  brought  flowly  and  fafely  to  Hea 
ven"  as  Dr.  Bates  fays  of  Mr.  Baxter — Serus  in  Ccelum-~+ 
No  remarkable  Symptoms  appeared  of  his  Diffolution 
being  at  Hand^  until  a  few  Days  before  he  died—  He 
mentions  one  in  a  Letter  (the  very  Jaft  I  fuppofe  he  ever 
wrote,  whether  fent  or  not,  is  uncertain)  to  his  honoured 
Friend  and  Correfpondent  Dr.  Benjamin  Avery,  the  rough 
Draught  of  which  is  found  dated,  Auguft  26.  1747  (three 
Days  before  his  Death,)  wherein  are  thefe  PafTages,  fciL 


*  The  Doftor  preached  the  very  Sabbath  before  he  died,  from 
Pfalm  Ixyi.  3.  Say  unto  God,  How  terrible  art  tbou  in  thy  Works  / 

In  the  Year  1737.  He  defired  to  be  excufed  from  frequent  Vifit* 
ing  the  Sick  and  the  Adminiftration  of  the  Sacraments. —  But  he  often 
performed  both  thefe  Services  afterwards,  in  particular  after  the  Death 
of  his  Colleague. 

•f-  Although  he  often  complained  both  in  publick  and  to  his  Cor- 
refpondents  of  his  Memory  and  other  Mental  Powers  failing,  yet  but 
very  few  Traces  of  fuch  a  Debilitation  were  difcernable  in  any  of  fci* 
Performances. 

Nee  tarda  Seneflus   •   ••• 

Debilitat  Fires  Aaimi  tnutat<ve  Figore. 

As  good  a  Judge  as  moft  in  the  Nation  writes  thus  to  hifti  Marti 
18.  1745. 

"  Notwithftanding  your  Complaints,  I  fee  no  Marks  of  your  de 
clining  Strength  in  your  Letters.  Your  Imagination  feems  ftill  very 
lively,  your  judgment  folid,  and  your  Manner  of  expreffing  your 
Sentiments  quite  clear,  diftincl,  methodical  and  fprightly. 

May  your  Health,  your  Talents  and  Capacity  for  extended  dif- 
tinguithed  and  uncommon  Ufefulnefs  be  long  indulged  to  you,  and 
particularly  may  your  Minilterial  Labour  be  crowned  with  the  moft 
defirable  and  abundant  Succefs.— —•  ^-  ^. 

"  Moft 


of  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN. 

"  Mod  honoured  Sir, 

I  once  more  falute  you  before  I  die.  The  Humours 
long  refting  in  my  Feet,  have  taken  a  fudden  Turn  up 
ward  to  my  Breaft  ;  and  whether  1  fhall  be  able  on  the 
Verge  of  Seventy-four^  tender  and  afthmatick  from  my 
Youth  up,  to  ferve  the  Flock  to  whom  I  have  not  failed 
yet  in  my  weekly  Miniftrations ;  or  to  ferve  my  Coun 
try  again  by  my  late  failing  Correfpondence  with  you  and 
others,  is  with  the  God  of  my  Life. 

The  laft  Effort  I  have  made  for  the  Service  of  my 
Country  and  Nation,  and  the  Churches  here,  and  with 
you,  and  we  are  one  in  CHRIST  ;  is  in  the  inclofed  Let 
ter  to  the  Honourable  Sir  PETER  WARREN,  which  I 
have  lately  forwarded  to  him,  and  if  he  have  not  receiv 
ed  it,  I  leave  it  open  for  your  Reading,  and  putting  a  Seal 
to  it  •,  and  if  you  think  it  of  Importance  enough  to  dif- 
courfe  with  him  upon  it,  and  ftrengthen  his  Hand  in  God, 
by  your  generous  chriftian  Manner  of  Addrefs,  I  hope  it 
may  be  of  publick  Advantage  to  the  Eritijh  Kingdom 
and  Provinces,  the  Religion  of  JESUS  which  you  have 
been  ever  and  highly  ferving  j  and  may  you  live  on  to 
ferve  by  the  Will  of  God. 

Salute  from  me  our  honoured  Friend  Mr.  Palmer^  to 
whom  I  even  wifh  to  have  communicated  every  worthy 
Endeavour  for  publick  Benefit  to  State  or  Church  :  And 
when  you  fee  Dr.  Watts  or  Dr.  Guife,  falute  them  from 
me  •,  to  whom  I  have  not  failed  to  write,  if  the  Enemy 
do  not  intercept,  &c.  &?<r.f 

Thus  this  Friend,  Ornament  and  Glory  of  New- 
England  expiring  wrote. 

And  while  fuch  evident  Symptoms  of  Death  were 
upon  him,  he  vifited  and  took  leave  of  fome  of  his  near 
Relatives  and  fpake  to  them  of  his  Deceafe. 

Even  the   Day  before  he  died  he  received  Company 


•f  The  Letter  referred  unto To  the  Right  Honourable  Sir 

Peter  Warren  fhouid  have  been  inferted  if  a   Copy  of  k  could  have 
been  found. 

at 


228          <Tbt  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

at  Home. Mrs.Colman's  Son,  Charles  Fr0/7Efq;  with 

his  Spoufe  arrived  from  the  Eaft- ward  to  payaVifir, 
whom  he  welcomed  with  his  ufual  Complaifance  :  But 
told  them  withal  (after  the  firft  Salutations  were  over) 
"  Thai  they  were  come  to  fee  him  die"-\  He  fpent  the 
Evening  religioufly  and  pleafantly  with  them,  and  about 
the  Hour  of  Eleven  waited  on  them  to  their  Chamber, 
blefling  them  and  wifhing  them  a  good  Repofe.  Then 
returning  to  his  own,  he  endeavoured  to  compofe  him- 
felf  to  Reft,  but  had  little  Sleep.  However,  herofe  in 
the  Morning  as  ufual,  but  rather  more  feeble  than  on 
the  preceeding  Day,  and  about  the  Hour  of  Nine  or 
Ten  A.  M.  after  a  little  faint  Turn  or  two  expired  in 
an  happy  Eutbanafia.  God  kitted  away  his  Soul  (as  the 
Jews  exprefs  it.)  *  Thus  he  was  favoured  with  a  kind  of 
^Tranjlation,  and  his  Spirit  conveyed  on  the  Pinions  of 
Angels  to  the  Paradife  of  God,  the  Hades  of  the  BleiTed 
to  adorn  the  Heavenly  World.  || 

Hereby  our  Glory  is  thinned,  and  a  fplendid  Part  of 
the  Beauty  of  our  Ifrael  fallen,  or  rather  afcended  !' 

His  furviving  Brethren  with  the  Sons  of  the  Prophets 
will  be  looking  up  and  crying  after  him  as  Eli/ha  after 
Elijah,  My  Father,  My  Father,  &c.  4- 

All  New-England  \s  called  to  mourning  on  this  folemn 
Occaiion,  as  Ifrael  was  for  their  Mofes,  their  Aaron^  their 
Samuel^  &c.  and  fhpuld  pay  all  due  Honours  to  his 
Remains  and  Memory,  as  to  a  Jehoiada  of  whom  it  is 
laid— He  had  done  good  in  Ifrael^  both  toward  God, 
and  towards  his  Houfe.  |]|| 

L  ______ 

• 

•f-  He  alfo  fpake  to  his  Colleague  (in  the  Evening)  with  a  Coun 
tenance  that  fhevved  haw  perfe&ly  reconciled  he  was  to  the  Thoughts 
of  Death  ;  "  whether  any  Thing  can  remove  the  Diforder  I  am  unr 
der  I  know  not.  I  leave  it  with  God.1* 

*  Sicce  dttur   nobis  Vi<verey  fieqi  e  Mori. 

fj  When  all  Things  are  in  readinefs  for  our  Removal  out  of  the 
World,  it  is  a  Priviledge  to  be  fpar'd  the  lad  Ceremony  of  parting, 
and  all  thePains  andStruggles  of  feeble  Nature.  Mrs.Rcwis  Life. 

4,   2  Kivgs  z.  12,  11(1   2  Cbron.   24.    1 6. 

We 


-J  . 


of  Dr.  BE  N  j  A  M  i  N  COL  M  A  N. 

We  have  often  (of  late  Years)  been  called  to  utter.our 
Sorrows,  upon  feeing  the  Execution  of  that  divine 
Threatning,  "  For  behold  the  Lord,  the  Lord  of  HosJs, 
doth  take  away —  Tbe  Prophet ,  and  the  Prudent^  and  the 
Ancient — and  the  eloquent  Orator.^ — Which  brings  to  my 
Mind  a  Saying  of  the  great  Mr.  Howe  (in  a  Dedication 
of  a  Sermon  upon  the  Deceafe  of  the  Rev. Mr.  Matthew 
Mead)  "  Such  excellent  Perfons  leave  this  World  fo  faff* 
that  it  grows  a  more  difficult  Chaice,  with  whom  tQ  faui, 
than  with  whom  to  die  /" 

May  a  double  Portion  of  the  Spirit  of  Piety,  Indnftry, 
Fidelity,  Candour,  Catholicifm,  Generofity,  Charity,  &c. 
which  eminently  dwelt  in,  and  was  exercifed  by  this  de- 
ceafed  Servant  of  God  reft  upon,  and  be  increafed  to  all 
furviving  Minifters  through  the  Land,  and  Chriftian 
World  : — And  particularly  on  the  dear  young  Paftor  of 
that  Flock  of  Chrift,  to  whom  our  Reverend  Father  fo 
long  miniftred. 

And  may  this  Breach  (wide  as  the  Sea)  be  foon  repair 
ed  by  our  glorious  Mediator,  JESUS,  with  whom  is  the 
Refidue  of  the  Spirit  (and  all  needful  precious  Gifts  for 
his  Church)  by  fixing  fome  eminent  Man  of  God  over 
the  Congregation,  in  whofe  Light,  Influence  and  Ufe- 
fulnefs,  they  and  all  New-England  may  again  and  long 
rejoice, 

May  the  God  of  all  Confolations  abound  in  his  di 
vine  Supports  and  reviving  Comforts  to  all  bereaved  Re 
latives  and  Friends  :  And  in  fpecial  Favour  take  up  in 
the  Arms  of  his  Providence  and  Grace,,  the  dear  and 
only  remaining  Branch,  and  fo  form,  and  furnifh,  and 
fpirit  him  for  Service,  in  his  Generation,  that  he  may  a- 
dorn  the  Memory  of  his  great  and  good  Grand-father. 

May  the  honoured  and  bereaved  Church  and  Congre 
gation  in  Brattle-Street  (for  whom  the  Deceafed  ever  ex- 
prefTed  the  highefl  Efteem  and  Honour,  the  tendered 


f  If  a.  lii.  i,  2.     Several  aged  and  excellent  Minifters  have  lately 
died,  and  fcveral  younger  Ones  alfo. 

Love 


L I  F  E  and  C  H  A  R  A  C  T  E  R 

Love  and  AfFe<5Hdn,  both  in  his  Youth  and  Age,  and  to 
whom  by  his  Will,  he  bequeathed  a  feleft  valuable  Num 
ber  of  Books  out  of  his  Library,  for  the  Ufe  of  their 
Paftors  in  all  Times  to  come,  befides  a  Sum  of  Money 
for  their  Poor,)  Remember  them  which  have  had  the  Rule 
over  them,  who  have  fpoken  to  them  the  Word  of  the  Lord, 
and  follow  their  Faith,  confldering  the  End  of  their  Con- 
verfation. 

It  is  not  my  Province  here  to  exhort,  counfel  and  di 
rect  you —  Yet  permit  me  to  fay,  your  excellent  Paftors 
(now  with  God)  fpeak  unto  you  in  their  many  ufeful 
Publications  (left  in  your  Hands)  with  all  Wifdom  and 
Pungency. 

Some  Paragraphs,  efpecially  in  the  late  Dedication  and 
Addrefs  made  to  you  before  the  Sermon  on  the  Death  of 
your  firft  honoured  and  beloved  Cooper,  which  is  in  your 
Hands,  are  recommended  to  your  ferious  Review. 

If  any  ihould  enquire  concerning  the  Perfon  of  Dr. 
Colman,  in  what  Kind  of  Body,  this  bright  and  holy  Soul 
was  lodged  ; 

His  Form  was  fpare  andflender,butofaStaturetall,and 
erect  above  the  common  Height  ;  his  Completion  fair 
and  delicate ;  his  Afpect  and  Mien  benign  and  graceful  ;* 
and  his  whole  Appearance  amiable  and  venerable.  There 
was  a  peculiar  Flame  and  Dignity  in  his  Eye  ;  which  he 
could  foften  and  manage  with  all  the  Beauty  and  Force 
of  Oratory  :  but  dill  natural,  and  without  the  leaft  Af 
fectation.  Wifdom  and  Grace  made  his  Face  to  fhine  ; 
efpecially  while  praying  or  preaching,  when  we  beheld 
him,  like  another  Stephen,  his  Face  as  it  had  been  the  Face 
vfan  Angtl.-\  And  his  neat  and  clean  Manner  of  Drefs, 

and 


*  Vultu  ft  Sermon f  brnlgna. 

-\  A  reverend  and  worthy  Brother,  who  was  fo  kind  as  to  fend  me 
fev'eral  fair  Lines  towards  perfecting  the  above  Defcription  of  the 
Dodlor's  Perfon,  writes,  "  I  have  feldom  feen  or  heard  him  in  the 
Charms  of  his  Pulpit  Attitude  and  Utterance,  without  raifing  in  my 

Mind, 


cf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN;  231 

and  genteel,complaifantBehaviour,  Politenefs  andElegance 
in  Converfation,  fee  off  his  Perfon  to  the  bed  Advantage. 

His  Piffure  drawn  in  the  Year  1734,  by  the  greateft 
Matter  our  Country  has  feen,  Mr.  Jobn  Smibert^  fhows 
both  his  Face  and  Air  to  Perfection  :  And  a  very  con- 
fiderable  Refemblance  is  given  us  in  the  Metfotinto  done 
from  it  by  Mr.  P.  Pelbam,  which  is  in  many  of  our 
Houfes. 

To  finifh  this  lovely  and  fublime  Character,  we  fhall 
conclude  with  the  publick  Honours  done  him  before  the 
Fathers  of  his  Country,  on  the  Commencement  after  his 
Departure,  in  the  Oration  of  Mr.  HOLYOKE,  the  Reve 
rend  and  Learned  Prefident  of  Harvard  College,  at  the 
Clofe  of  the  Academical  Ads. 

"  Finem  ideo  facerem,  nifi  quod  Morem  juxta 

"  Societatis  noftrae  folennem,  Viros  illos  praeftantes,  Quo- 
"  rum  Obitu,  et  Populus  et  Ecclefias,  Societafque  noftra, 
ic  Damnum  lethale  proximo  Anno  fuftinuere  (Taftorum 
"  nempe  Ecclefiarum  quarundam  Nov-Anglicarum) 
<c  Meum  commemorare  foret ;  Viros  fcil.  Reverendos 
"  Dom.JofephumLordChathamenfem,  Dom.  Samuelem 

Mind  Sir  Richard  Blacktaore's  fine  Lines  on  his  Orator  Ty/on  which 
feem  made  on  Purpofe  for  the  Doftor. 

Whofe  charming  Tongue  was  never  match'd, 
A  facred  Man,  a   venerable  Prieft, 
Who  never  fpake   and  Admiration  mift. 
He  feem'd  exprefs  on  Heaven's  high  Errand  fent, 
As  Mofet  meek,   as  Jlaron  eloquent. 
Neftar  divine  flows  from  his  heavenly  Tongue, 
And  on  his  Lips  charming  Perfwafion  hung. 
Wh«n  he  the  facred  Oracles  reveaPd, 
Our  ravifht  Souls,  in  bleft  Enchantments  held, 
Seem'd  loft  in  Tranfports  of  immortal  Blifs  ; 
No  fimple   Man  could  everfpeak  like  this  ! 
He  triumph'd  o'er  our  Souls,   and  at  his  Will, 
Bid  this  touch'd  Paffion  rife,  and  that  be  (till. 
Lord  of  our  Paffions,   he  with  wondrous  Art, 
Could  ftrike  the  fecret    Movements  of  our  Heart, 
Releafe  our  Souls  and    make    them  foar  above, 
Wing'd  wifch  divkie  JDefires,  and  Flames  of  heavenTv  T  rvp; 

*f  Moody 


¥be  LIFE -and  CHARACTER 

"  Moody  Eboracenfem,  Dom  JohannemPrentice  Lancaf- 
"  trienfem,  Dom.  Thomam  Cheney  de  Brookfield,Dom. 
"  Jolhuam  Gee  Boftonienfem,  Dom.  Theophilum  Pick- 
"  ering  Ipfuicenfern  et  Dom. S. Clap  de  Woburn, Quorum 
"  nonnullos  Ecclefias  praecipue  lugent,  de  Casteris  Eccle- 
"  fiae  non  tantum,  Nov  Anglia  autem  univerfa,  Societaf- 
cc  que  noftra  potiffimum,  Luctibus  indulgent  ;  Qulbus 
"  Omnibus,egregie  licet  ornatis,Virum  vere  Reverendum 
"  BENJAMINEMCOLMAN  longe  praecellere,Nemo  non  fa- 
"  cile  confitebitur,Societatis  Qui  noftras,per Annos  quam- 
ce  plurimosSocius  fuit,  Deinde  Prsefes  eledus,  apud  Glaf- 
"  cuenfes  nee  non  S.  S.  Theologias  Doflor,  per  Annos 
4C  denique  quinquaginta  fere  Minifter  Jefu  Chrifti  fidelif- 
44  fimus,  Cujus  Mortem,  Nobis  infelicem,  fatis  quomodo 
<c  flebimus !  Perelegantis  etenim  fuit,  mollifque  Ingenii 
"  Vir,  Suavitate  Morum  eximia,  Eruditione  pariter  ac  or- 
*6  natiffima  prasditus  :  Concionator  fuit  vere  mellifluus, 
*'  Generofus  confummatus,  cum  primis  autem  Chriftianus 
<c  candidus  &  apertus,  unde  Morte  cum  fua  congredi, 
"  optime  paratus  fuit ;  Morte  fua,  non  dico  repentina, 
"  ejufmodi  quippe,  Temper  paratis  evenire  nequit. 

"  Quod  vero  ad  Societatem  noftram  •,  Damnum  eft 
cc  graviflimum,  etiam  Fide  majus  ;  Nobis  etenim  fuit 
<c  Amicus  vere  indefeffus,  etiam  Benefactor  maximus 
*'  propemodum  dixeram  -,  Ex  Officiis  etenim  civilibus 
"  Sibi  propriis,  Beneficia  ilia  egregia  FAM ILIA  ex  HOL- 
"  LISSIANA  Londinenfi  nobiliffima,  in  Noscollata  fuere, 
<e  ut  ex  abundanti  teftatur,  Gener  ejus  Reverendus,  Qui 
*'  Vitae  ejus  amabilis  Hiftoriam,  Typis  mandaturus  eft. 
<c  Ope  quinetiam  ejus  afTidua,  Eruditorum  multi,  Atlan- 
<c  ticum  ultera,  Opera  fua  inasftimabilia,  in  Nos  contule- 
"  runt.  Ne  Multa  •,  Vita  ejus  utiliffima,  in  Rebus  Cha- 
*c  ritatis,  Humanitatis,  Benignitatis  et  Beneficentise,  nun- 
*'  quam  non  occupata  fuit.  Pras  Detrimento  jamufque 
**  hoc  ingenti,  Solamen  Nobis  nullum  eft,  nifi  quod  Servi 
**  fidelisPrsemiiKn,  in  Caelis,  jampridem  acceperit,  Nomen 
<x  ct  ejus  memorabile,  Odorem  optime  redolentexn,  per 
*'  Secula  diffundet, 

A 


gf  Dr.  BENJAMIN  COLMAN.  233 

A  Catalogue  of  Dr.  COLMAN'S  Works. 

1702. 

Faith  victorious.     An  Artillery    Sermon,  from  Heb.  xi.   33. 

1707. 

The  Government  and  Improvement  of  Mirth,  3  Serm.  from  Jam.v.i^. 
Imprecation  againft   the  Enemies  of   God   lawful  and  a  Duty  :    A 

Sermon   from   Pfalm  Ixviii.    i. 

Practical  Difcourfes   on  the  Parable  of  the    Ten  Virgins. 
Elijah^  Mantle  :    A  Poem  on  the  Death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  S.  Willard. 

1708. 

The  Rulers  Piety  and  Duty  :    A  Sermon  from  2  Cbron.  xxx.  22. 
On  the  Union  of  the  two  Kingdoms  England  and  Scotland  :    A  Ser 
mon  from  PJalm  cxxii.  6,  7,  8,  9. 
1711. 

The  Duty  and  Honour  of  aged  Women,  from  Titus  ii.  3.     A  Fune 
ral  Sermon  on  Madam  Abigail  Fojler. 

I713- 
'A  Difcourfe  of  feeking  God  early,  from  Pro<v.  viii.  17. 

heinous  Nature  of  the  Sin  of  Murder,  from  Pfal.  li.  14. 


A  devout  Contemplation  on  the  Meaning  of  divine  Providence  in  the 
early  Deaths  of  pious  and  lovely  Children,  from  Jer.  ix.  21.  A 
Funeral  Sermon  on  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Wainwright. 


A  humble  Difcourfe  of  the   Incomprehenfiblenefs  of  God,  in   four 

Sermons  from  Job  xi.  7,  8,  9. 
JThe  precious  Gifts  of  the  afcended  Saviour.     A  Sermon  from   Epb, 

iv.  8—  ii. 
vThe  Bleffing  and  Honour  of  fruitful  Mothers.     A  Sermon  from  Gen 

xxxiii.  5.  preached  at  the  Baptifm  of  his  Daughter. 
LThe  happy   End  of  a  holy  and   ufeful  Life.     A   Sermon  upon   the 

Death  of  the  Hon.  Ifaac  Addington,  Efq;  from  ASs  xiii.  36. 
"Divine  Companions  magnified.     A  Sermon. 
An  Enquiry  into   the  Death  of  good  Men,  a  Funeral  Sermon  on  the 

Death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Bridge,  from  Num.  xxxiii.  38. 

1716. 

The  Warnings  of  God  unto  young  People  from  Prov.  i.  10. 
The  Honour   and   Happinefs  of  the  vertuous   Woman.     A  Funeral 

Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  flirft,  fromProv.  xxxi.  28. 
A  Sermon  for  the  Reformation  of  Manners,  from  Pfal.  li.  13. 
Our  Father's  Sins  confefled  with  our  own.  A  Sermon  from  Pfal.  cvi.  6. 
A  Thankfgiving  Sermon  for  the  Suppreflion  of  the  late  vile  and  trai- 

terous  Rebellion  in  Great  -Britain,  from  i  Kings  x.  9. 

1717. 

A  Sermon  at  theRev.  Mr.  William  Cooper's  Ordination,from  27VV».H.r, 

G  g  A 


234  W>*  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

A  Funeral  Sermon   on  the    Deaths  of  the  Rev.  Meflirs.  Brattle  and 

Pftnbtrton,  from  John  ix.  4. 
A  holy  Walk  before  God  in  Truth.     A  Funeral    Sermon  upon  the 

Death  of  Grove  Birft,  Efq;  with  his  Remains  annexed. 
The  Rending  of  theVail  of  the  Temple.  A  Sermon  from  Mark  xi.  38. 
Five  Sermons  on  the  ftrong  Man  armed,  from  Luk.  xi.  21,  22. 
A  Difcourfe  of  the  Pleafure  of  religious    Worfhip  in  our  publick  Af- 
femblies.     A  Sermon  from  Pfalm  cxxii.  i. 

1718. 

An  Eledion  Sermon,  from  Neb.  v.  19. 

1719. 

The  Blefliag  of  Zebulun  and  Iffacbar.  A  Sermon  fromZ)^«/.xxxiii.  1 8, 1 9. 
Reafons  for  a  Market  in  Eojlon. 

1720. 

Of  a  Jofepbi:  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  Governor  Dudley,  fromH^.xi.22. 
Early  Piety  inculcated,   from  Eccl.  xii.  I. 

1721. 
The  Hope  of  the  Righteous  in  their  Death.     A  Funeral  Sermon  on 

William  Harris,  Efq;  from  Pro<v.  xiv.  32. 
Early  Piety  towards  Men.     A  Sermon  from  Epb.  vi.  2. 
Some  Obfervations  on  Inoculation. 

1722. 

Jacob's  Vow.     A  Sermon  from  Grfc;  xxxiii.  20,  21. 
Mofes  a  Witnefs  to  Chrift.     A  Sermon  at  the  Baptifm  of  Mr.  Moms.-\ 

1723. 

An  Election  Sermon,  from  i  Cbron.  xxviii.  8. 

God  deals  with  us  as  Rational  Creatures  ;    a  Sermon  from  Tfa.  i.  10. 
The  Duty  of  Parents  to  pray   for  their  Children.     A  Sermon   from 

1  Chron.  xxix.  19. 
The  Death  of  Saints  precious  in  God's  Sight.     A  Sermon  on  Madam 

Steel,  from  Pfal.  cxvi.  15. 
A  blamelefs  and  inoffenfive  Life  ;    a  Sermon  on  the  Death  of  Mr. 

David  Stoddard,  from  Phil.  i.  10. 

The  Prophet's  Death  lamented  and   improved.     A  Funeral  Sermon 
on  Dr.  Increafe  Mather,  horn  If  a.  iii.    i,  2. 

1724. 

The  Matter  taken  up  from  the  Sons  of  the  Prophets.     A  Sermon  on 
the  Death  of  Prefident  Leverett,  from  2  Kings  ii.  3. 

1725. 

The  Doclrine  and   Law   of  the   holy  Sabbath,   two  Sermons  from 
Exod.  xxxi.  12,  13. 

1726. 

It  is  a  fearful  Thing  to   fall  into  the   Hands  of  the  living  God.     A 
Sermon  preached  to  Pirates,  from  Heb.  x.  3 1 . 


A    converted  Jew,    and   now   Hebrew    Profeflor    ^Harvard- 

Parents 


Dr.  BENJAMIN  COL  MAN.  255 


Parents  and  Children   at  the   Table  of  Chrift.     A  Sacramental   Dif 

!     courfe  from  Luke  ii.  41,  42. 

Prayer  to  the  Lord  of  the  Harvetf.     A  Sermon  from  Mattb.  ix    *8 

at  the  Ord:nation  of  Mr.  Pfmlerfon  of  New-  tor* 
Fidelity  to  Chrift,  and  the  Proteftant  Succeffion.     On  King  GEORG. 

the  Second's  Acceffion. 
Five  Sermons  on  the  great  Earthquake,  from  Ezek.  x.  2.  and  #,.xxiv.6. 

f^'s  holy  Walk,  and  glorious'  Tranflation.     A  Funeral  Sermon  on 

Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  from  G«*.  v.  24. 
Twenty  Sacramental  Sermons  on  the  Glories  of  Chrift 
I  he  Duty  of  young   People  to  givetheir  Hearts  to  God—  becaufe 

they  are  his  Offspring.     Four  Sermon  from  /W.  xxiii.  26.  and 

•flCtS  XVll,  2o. 

Death  and  the  Grave  without  any  Order.     A  Sermon  from  Jol  x.  22. 
A  Treatife  on  Family  Worfhip. 


of 

of  the  venerable  Mr- 


The  Credibility  of  the  Ch'riftian  Doarine  of  the  Refurreaion  •  a  Ser 
mon  on  the  Death  of  m,lia»  ^j,ed>  Efq;  iSSSSSfc  8 

Government  the  Wto  rf  the  Earth.  "  A  Sermon  from  ,  Saal.  ii,  8. 
on  Governor  Belcher^  Acceffion 

tPheaHnn  ^  ***  *,?*?  S?  *&'      A  Serm0n    °n  t 
the  Hon.  Stmeon  Stoddard,  Efq;  from  G.».  xv.  15. 

A  Funeral 


fq;  from  John  xi.  n. 

1722 

The  Grace  given  us  in  the  preached  Gofpel.  A  Sermon  from  Etb.  iii.8 

God  is  a  great  King.    A  Sermon7from  Mai.  i.  14. 

The  Faft  which  God  has  chofen.'7  A'sermon  from  Ifa.  Iviii.  5. 


i  from  £w.  x.  3.  and 

MI.  23.  on  the  Death  of  his  eldeft  Dauehter 
D,flertauon  on  the  three  firft  Chapters  of  Gaefo. 

G*'  I  ™  °n  'he  Image  °f  God'  wherein  Man  was  created,  from 
Me.handize  a*,  Hire  Holinefs  to  the  Lord  :  A  Sermon  from  Ifa. 

Righ- 


236        tte  LIFE  and  CHARACTER 

Righteoufnefs  and  Companion  the  Ruler's  Duty  and  Chara&er  :  A 
Sermon  from  Zech.  vii.  8,  9. 

J737- 

The  divineCompaffions  new  every  Morning.  ASermonfrom  Lam.'in.z^. 
Waiting   on  God   in  our   Straits   and  Difficulties.     A  Sermon   from 
Jer.  xiv.  22. 

1738- 

Chrift  (landing  an  Eniign  of  the  People  :  An  Artillery  Eledion  Ser 
mon  from  I/a.  xi.  10. 

"739- 
The  Unfpeakable  Gift  :    A  Sermon  from  2  Cor.  ix.  15. 

Faithful  Paftors,  Angels  of  the  Churches :  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  the 

Rev.  Mr.  Peter  T backer,  from  Rev.  i.  20. 
The  withered  Hand  ftretched  forth  and  reftored  :    A  Sermon  from 

Mark  iii.  5. 

1740. 
The  faithful  Servant  in  the  Jay  of  his  Lord.     A  Funeral   Sermon  on 

the  Hon.  Samuel  Holden,  Elq;  from  Mat.  xxv.  21,  22. 
Pleafant  to  fee  Souls  flying  to  Chrift  :    A  Sermon  from  J/a.  Ix.  8. 

1741. 
The  Lord  fhall  rejoice  in  his  Works.  A  Sermon  on  Governor  Shirley's 

Acceffion,  from  Pfal.  civ.  3 1 . 

1742. 

The  Word  of  God  magnified  by  him  :  A  Sermon  fromP/b.cxxxviii.2. 
The   Glory  of   God's  Power  in   the   Firmament :    A  Sermon  from 

Pfalm  cl.  i. 

J743- 

]ES us  weeping  over  his  dead  Friend  :  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  the 
Death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  William  Cooper,  from  John  xi.  35. 

1744. 

SataiVs  fiery  Darts  in  hellifh  .Suggestions,  in  fibveral  Sermons  from 
Job  ii.  9,  10. 

1.746. 

One  chofen  of  God  and  called  to  the  Work  of  the  Mmiftry,  willing 
ly  offering  himfelf  :  A  Sermon  at.the  Ordination  of  the  Rev. Mr. 
Samuel  Cooper,  from  Ifa.v'i.  8; 

The  Vanity  of  Man  as  mortal  :  A  Funeral  Sermon  on  the  Hon,  Mrs. 
Frances  Shirley,  from  PfoJ.  Jxxxix.  47. 

< . 

FINIS. 


POSTSCRIPT^ 

I  Had  (with  no  fmall  Labour)  prepared  a  large  AppeS 
dix  to  the  foregoing  Narrative,  containing  many  cu* 
rious  and  entertaining  Pieces  in  Profe  and  Verfe  (which  I 
laid  by  in  my  Searches  and  Refearches,  among  the  Doc 
tor's  Papers)  fome  of  which  I  found  would  not  ftand 
well  under  either  of  the  Ten  Chapters— And  others  came 
too  late  to  Hand  to  be  inferted  in  their  proper  Places. 
But — Thefe  muft  now  lie  buried  for  Want  of  fufficient 
Subfcriptions  and  Encouragement  to  the  Undertakers  ; 
and  by  Reafon  the  Book's  already  fwelling  to  a  Bulk  be 
yond  the  Expectation  and  DESIRE  OF  SOME  of  the  Sitf> 
{bribers. 

I  would  add  concerning  the  Narrative  it  felf  "  That 
upon  a  Review,  I  have  difcerned  a  few  Miftakes  and  feem- 
ing  Inconfiftences  (and  doubtle(s  my  Readers  will  fee 
more)  fell.  In  the  Doctor's  Character  of  Mrs.  Rowe,  P. 
40.  he  fays,  "  She  had  only  her  Mother  Tongue,"  I  am  in 
clined  to  think,  that  even  when  the  Doftor  was  acquaint 
ed  with  her,  me  had  Knowledge  in  the  French  and  Italian 
Languages,  although  he  was  ignorant  of  it  to  the  Day  of 
her  Death,*  not  only  from  what  the  worthy  Author  of  her 
Life  fays,  P.  20.  but  alfo  from  what  we  read  in  Dr.  Watts' s 
Preface  to  his  Her*  Lyric*  written  1709,  wherein  he 
mentions  his  Obligations, to  her  fo#  directing  him  to  fome 
foreign  Authors. — And  this  (by  the  Way)  fhews  that  one 
may  be  intimately  acquainted  with  a  Perfon,  and  yet 
remain  ignorant  of  fome  of  their  Accomplifhments  and 
Circumftances  of  Life,  as  I  hint  in  my  Marginal  Note, 
Page  ibid  : — My  fhort  Note  on  Mr.  Henry  Groves'*  Ac 
quaintance  with  Mrs.  Rowe,  might  have  been  fpared  ; 
for  if  it  be  the  fame  Gentleman  whofe  Poem  ftands  be 
fore  Dr.  Watts'*  Hor<*>  Lyric*,  dated  1706,  it  is  highly 
probable  he  might  have  had  a  long  Acquaintance  with 
the  Lady  ;  but  be  it  ever  fo  long  my  Remarks  on  his 
denying  the  Story  Jland  good. 

*  For  in  like  Words  he  gives  her  Character  in  a  publick  Print  of 
April  28.  1737,  upon  the  News  of  her  Deceafe. 

Irt 


(  2.3  «  ) 

In  Page  59,  tart  of  the  aid  and  22d  Lines  fhould 
have,  been  omitted,  (being  mecr  Repetitions)  viz.  which 
he  fervtd  and  and  an  Abftradt  of  the  Rev.  IWsDeed 
fo  far  as  relates  to  the  Ufe  he  has  direded  the  Eftate  to* 
fhould  have  been  inferted,  which  I  have  fmce  feen  and 
find  the  Gift  made  in  a  more  catholick  Manner  than  was 
feared,  and  yet  attended  withfome  undefirable  Conditions. 
In  Page  78  Margin  read  Dr.  Jurin—  Page  1 14  Margin 
next  to  Thomas  Hutchinfon,  Andrew  Oliver.,  Efq;  fhould 
have  been  named—  Page  183  Margin  firft  Line,  read  a 
Mmifler  inftead  of  Ministers —  Among  the  Inaccuracies,  is 
Dr.  Colman's  being  too  often  ftiled  Doftor,  before  he 
had  received  his  Diploma—  All  other  lefler  Miftakes 
may  be  mended  by  the  candid  intelligent  Reader— 

E.  r. 


